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SECTIONS 1 AND 2

FROM: Geneva

TO: Secretary of State

NO: SECTO 654, July 18, 11 p.m. (SECTION ONE OF TWO)

PRIORITY

SENT DEPARTMENT SECTO 654, REPEATED INFORMATION PARIS 94, LONDON 19, SAIGON 63, TOKYO 6, MOSCOW 7.

DEPARTMENT PASS DEFENSE; TOKYO PASS CINCFE; SAIGON PASS VIENTIANE AND PHNOM PENH

Twenty-third Indochina restricted session Sunday, July 18, Molotov presiding. This session-called at urgent request Soviets; French and British had requested that participants be confined to chiefs of del plus one advise. This latter relaxed to permit two advisers.

Molotov spoke first, noting that last meeting of Foreign Ministers held on June 19, just one month ago. He believed that today's session presented good opportunity to guagegauge [sic] importance of period which had passed since last meeting and work performed by deputies. He believed that results achieved through private meetings and discussions had been not (repeat not) inconsiderable. Of course, not (repeat not) all of the questions had been resolved nor everything done which had to be done, but one should recognize the value of what had been achieved.

Molotov said first of all he wished to note that as far as the most complicated problem was concerned, that of peace in Indochina, a basis for reestablishment of peace had been achieved as a result private negotiations which had opened possibility of agreement on that question. He believed all participants would attach appropriate significance to this accomplishment. He felt it was also important to recognize the work done with reference to establishment or peace in Laos and Cambodia. In this connection, it is perhaps true that everything had not (repeat not) been done that could be done but it appeared conference was on way to agreement concerning Laos and Cambodia.

Molotov said that all this shows recent private talks have had success and he expressed belief that such success would Rh

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