Evening star., 1947-01-22
Letters to The Star
Indo-C China Veteran Discusses
Wet Nam Disorders
To the Editor Of The Star:

Indo- China Veteran Discusses
Wet Nam Disorders
To the Editor of The Star:
wish to bring to your attention errors
contained in an article by Harold Isaacs
published in The Sunday Star of jan
uary IL under the title, Says Annamites
| Fight for Basic Liberties"
I served in Indo- China as personal
liaison officer OF Gen. Philippe Leclerc,
commander in chief of the French forces
to the Far East, and was sent by him to
Washington as his personal representa-
tive last year. I have accurate infor-
nation about Indo- China, although !
am now out of the service, and deplore
the fact that my American friends are
being informed enormously about sit
uation so closely related to the deeds Of
our mutual enemy, the japanese.
France has granted autonomy to the
various states of Indo-C o-China-Cambo-
dia, Laos, Cochin-C China and Wet Nam
each of which has its own form of
government, administration, army, etc.
All these peoples are satisfied with their
present status except Wet Nam, because
it's leaders are seeking, not the basic
liberties" which they have been granted,
but domination over their neighbors.
There is evidence that the Japanese
were the cause of the present difficult
ties. They created a puppet regime to
take the place of the French adminis-
tration on March 9, 1945. They perpe-
trated the hope that the Annamites,
who form only part of the Union OF
Indo-C China, might gain control over
the other states, composed of people en-
tirely different by race, civilization. re-
Hgion and language.
France cannot allow the Annamites
to fulfill the Japanese design in taking
away the freedom of the people of Cam
bodia, Laos and Cochin China for the
purpose of building up united empire
Of the yellow race. The Annamite ma
tionalists. have been utilized by the
Japanese to spread in Indo-China the
hatreds Of the whites.
There are proofs that Ho Chi-minh,
the Wet Mini leader, after having been
trained to revolutionary technique at
Moscow and at the headquarters of the
Yenan Army, colIaborated actively with
the Japanese.
japanese Methods Employed.
The last uprisings at Hanoi on Decem-
ber 20, 1916, show evidence of Japanese
methods of hypocrisy and cruelty.
T,vef In Tor AMI q w {
negotiating friendly contacts with Amer
lean statesmen on the eve of Pearl Har-
Dor, Ho-clli-minh's government was dis
cussing friendly relations with the
French representative on the very day
Of the insurrection, while preparations
for a general uprising had been made
many days before.
In addition, terrible atrocities were
committed the same night by the Wet
Mini against both French and sympa-
thizing Annamite civilians. These atroc-
tiles are identical with those often prac-
ticed by japanese troops.
France is thus facing Pearl Harbor
tactics. I should like to make brief
denial of some of the claims of the Wet
Nam as presented in Mr.. Isaacs' article.
There was an Annamite resistance to
the Japs under French leadership, but
the men who resisted are not members
of the Wet Mini. Some have been
buried alive as traitors to the Wet
Mini, while others are still great friends
of France. AS for Ho Chi-minn, the
French mission in China intercepted in
September, 1945, telegram from the
Japanese commander at Hue to Ho Chi
mimi, asking him to double the number
of the Wet Mini forces and to grant
them japanese equipment and ammuni-
ton. The Wet Mini command kept a
joint liaison section with the japanese
Army. All recent operations ended with
the capture either of Japanese soldiers
or of japanese killed in the ranks Of
Wet Minis troops.
Regarding the charge that France
be recalled that after receiving the
japanese ultimatum on June TO-. 1910,
Gen. Catroux made vain appeal to
the United States. The State Depart
ment could not "aggravate the tension
with Japan" and Indo-China was left
alone to face the japanese Army. The
French troops, very much inferior in
number, resisted strongly, particularly
at Langson. During the occupation
French underground resistance, aided
with many Indo-C Chinese faithful to the
French, co-operated with the Allies. The
japanese themselves acknowledged it
by the imperial headquarters commu-
nique of March 10, 1945, when they put
in Jail most French authorities to give
power to the Annamites puppet govern
ment. The Annamite loyalty to the
French had been evidenced during four
years of occupation. It surprised the
japanese themselves. To quicken an
Annamite uprising, the japanese COVER
nor Of Cochin China decided on March
13 to open the penitentiaries, thus free
ing all common-law convicts, who, hav-
ing nothing to lose, Joined Annamit6
auxiliaries of the japanese Army to
form the Wet Mini troops. BY cruel
ties, pillage, massacres, they forced the
peasant population to adhere to the
antiWhlte campaigns.
Denies Anti-French Charges.
AS to the charge that the French built
more prisons than schools, figures speak
for themselves The statistics for 1941
show 108 prisons and 9,733 educational
centers.
Another false accusation against the
French is "they have spoiled our rice
lands" BY doubling the acreage of cul-
tivated soil, varying the cultures and
creating a fine net of highways of U.s.
mn kiIoneters TO carry the food into