Show of Fight

On his return to Paris from Geneva, Foreign Minister Bidault confidently told newsmen: "France is not going to lie down in Indo-China." Last week there was an unexpected show of fighting spirit by the Laniel government. It: P: Asked France's No. 1 soldier, Marshal Juin, if he would be prepared to accept the Indo-China command. Juin's position at week's end: he did not want a defensive command if it was designed merely to strengthen Foreign Minister Bidault's bargaining hand at Geneva; but he would accept interallied command in an internationalized Indo-China war.

P: Decided to send heavy reinforcements --15,000 within the next few weeks--from Europe, North Africa and southern Indo-China to the decisive and threatened Red River Delta. French Chief of Staff General Ely warned that some two divisions, about 30,000 men, were needed to save the delta, and that Red General Giap would maintain his offensive through the summer rains.

P: Announced the "progressive and rapid" call-up of 80,000 young Frenchmen, about four months ahead of their draft deadline, to replace the delta reinforcements.

P: Was ready to send 9,000 trained (but unmarried) draftees to noncombat zones in southern Indo-China. The government was also reportedly ready to ask the National Assembly to revise the 1950 law that prohibits dispatch of draftees to combat zones (e.g., the delta), if it became necessary "to protect the Expeditionary Force." (The U.S. sent draftees to Korea, the British sent them to Malaya.)

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