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 TOP SECRET 31. : The French would prefer a regional grouping to UN sponsored assistance. They might consider such a grouping as less desirable than U. S. intervention alone. The French would probably feel, however, that they would have to go along with the formation of such a regional grouping if they could see no other way out of their difficulties in Indochina. After active multilateral armed intervention in Indochina, France would probably seek progressively to reduce its share of the military burden.

32. : The Associated states would probably prefer UN sponsored military assistance to any other form of outside intervention .They would, however, be more than willing to accept such assistance from a regional grouping, and would be eager to participate in such a grouping if it included effective U. S. military participation.

33. :


 * . . The reaction to U. S. military intervention in Indochina under the aegis of a regional grouping would be somewhat more favorable than the reaction to U. S. military intervention alone. UN sponsorship of U. S. military participation would materially decrease the hostility of the Arab-Asian bloc to U, S. intervention, and might also strengthen somewhat the support for such action in Latin America and Western Europe.

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