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American assistance to the French during the battle of Di?n Bi?n Ph? was highly significant. The United States provided military supplies and, secretly, transport crews. From early January to early April?1954, the Eisenhower Administration toyed with the idea of bombing the assaulting forces near Di?n Bi?n Ph?, a possibility which was mentioned to the Laniel Cabinet at the end of March. Eisenhower dropped the idea in early April, and chose instead to enter the Indochina war, provided a political agreement was concluded with France. During April, France asked several times in vain for this bombing, in order to raise the siege and to negotiate in strength at the Geneva Conference. In order to obtain the bombing, France almost agreed to carry on the war at the side of the United States. This negotiation had little meaning, however, since the bombing was technically infeasible.