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12. Villemur (France) said that the PRG refused to accept that they were the successors of the old Saigon Government. Although the French legal view was that there was no interruption in diplomatic relations when governments changed, they had found it politically necessary to make a special statement. He drew attention to
M. Sauvagnargue's statement of 8 May that "France is ready to raise the relations it now has with the PRG to Ambassadorial level as soon
as the Government of the Republic of South Vietnam indicates its wish for this."
13. Keil (Germany) said that the approach over diplomatic premises in Bonn had come in a telegram from Hanoi originated by the MFA of the Republic of South Vietnam in the name of the PRG of the RSV. This message requested the German authorities to ask the Yugoslav Embassy in Bonn to look after South Vietnamese property. They had had a parallel approach from the PRG Mission in France asking that custody be transferred to them. The Germans would be taking this up with the PRG Mission in Paris but they wished to establish the principle of reciprocity before they took any action on handover.
14. De Viron (Belgium) said they had had a similar approach from Hanoi. They had not yet decided how to reply. Their Chargé d'Affaires remained in Saigon but it was not clear yet whether he had succeeded in making contact with local authorities. Klaus (Netherlands) said that a telex message from Hanoi similar to the Germans' had been received. The Dutch were replying adding their own intention to return to Saigon in order to make the reciprocity point. In the Dutch view, this concluded the procedures of continuing diplomatic relations with the new Government. Ungaro (Italy) said that they would be answering the Note they had received but there was unlikely to be a separate Italian statement. They were in no particular hurry.
PRG and International Organisations
15.
Villemur (France) said that where Vietnam was already a member, the Republic of Vietnam could no longer claim the seat. The PRG would take it instead. Should the PRG apply for admission to organisations or conferences of which Vietnam was not presently a member, France would probably vote in favour. He thought it was likely that whilst separate States of North and South Vietnam existed they would not wish to enter UN organisations.
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