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But should this resistance be broken in Tonkin during the coming fall campaign, there is no doubt whatsoever that the final settlement will in practice be even less liberal than its present form.

As it now stands, the French position as expressed by M. Bollaert is an elastic instrument which will become a vise if the Vietnam Government is crushed but which, if this task proves beyond French military strength, can be stretched even to cover negotiations with Ho,

Respectfully yours,

Enclosures: Five Copies of M. Bollaert's speech on September 10

800

JLO'Sullivan:jcf

cc: Consulate General Saigon

Rh