AMBASSADOR PORTER RECOMMENDS THAT AFTER PEKING VISIT WE CONSIDER SUSPENDING PARIS TALKS UNLESS DRV PERMITS ACCESS TO OUR POW'S BY NEUTRAL BODY AND AGREES TO EXCHANGE OF SICK AND WOUNDED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2012
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: February 16, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

D. V?.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/10: LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8
w VA W
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
ACTION
February 16, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. K7SSINGER
FROM: JOHN D. NEGROPONT
SUBJECT:
NSS/NSC, State
Dept. reviews
completed
MORI/CDF C05081427
pgs 2-5 match the target
Background
Ambassador Porter Recommends that After
Peking Visit We Consider Suspending Paris
Talks Unless DRV Permits Access to our POW's
By Neutral Body and Agrees to Exchange of
Sick and Wounded
Ambassador Porter has sent you a message recommending
that after the Peking visit you consider sending a private message to the
North Vietnamese to the effect that unless they permit access to prisoners
rby a neutral body and agree to an exchange of sick and wounded prisoners
we will suspend the Paris Talks until further notice (Tab B).
Ambassador Porter notes that he has already dealt with Xuan Thuy's state-
ment that access cannot be granted to our POW's in Vietnam because it
might trigger a U. S. commando raid. In a recent plenary session Porter
pointed out that it would be a simple matter to bring the prisoners to a
neutral medical body in Hanoi for inspection without revealing the locations
of detention camps.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Porter's Proposal
Advantages :
1. This course of action might actually have an impact on the DRV's
approach to the handling of our POW's, if indeed they are sensitive about
the prospect of losing the Paris Plenary forum.
2. The GVN would welcome this step as an indication of firmness in
our position, particularly in the aftermath of all the fuss about "flexibility".
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/10: LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/10: LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8
SECRET/EYES ONLY 2
3. We would in effect be temporarily closing down a forum which is
widely considered to be sterile. It is also a forum which many judge as
offering a better propaganda platform to the DRV than to the allied side.
4. It would demonstrate in yet another concrete way that we really
care about our men held captive in North Vietnam.
Disadvantages:
1. The suspension suggested might not have the desired effect of gaining
access to our POW's and the exchange of sick and wounded.
2. This course might generate unnecessary criticism from those who
would prefer to blame us rather than the DRV for lack of progress in Paris.
3. We would disrupt a channel which has been useful in minor ways (e. g,
exchanging messages about POW packages, orchestrating our public stance
with our private initiatives, and maintaining the talks as a symbol of our
willingness to negotiate seriously with the other side whenever it is prepared
to do so).
4. As a general proposition, we would simply be making more of a fuss
about the Paris Talks than most people probably think it is worth.
Our Views
We think Ambassador Porter's recommendation has some merit and, of
course, is very much in keeping with his innovative style.
The key judgment would seem to boil down to weighing the advantage of
showing our real concern for our POW's versus the disadvantage of the adverse
publicity we might get for in effect taking the initiative in suspending the talks.
We believe this is really a toss-up judgment which only you and the President
can decide. We have, however, prepared a draft reply to Porter on the
assumption that you will decide against the proposal, pointing out that this is
an idea that we may wish to hold in reserve but We do not wish to rock the
Paris boat quite so much at this time.
Recommendation:
That you approve the message to Porter at Tab A.
SECRET/EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/10: LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/10: LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8
w
SECRET/EYES ONLY FOR AMBASSADOR PORTER
FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER
1. Many thanks for your message under reference. We think your idea
has merit although the President may wish to hold it in reserve for a
little while.
2. in any event we will keep your suggestion very much in mind, and, of
course, consult with you beforehand should we decide to go through with it.
3. Your kind wishes for the forthcoming trip are most appreciated here.
Warm regards,
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/10: LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8
 XXXXETM?
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FBI AMBASSADOR PORTER 570
TO THE WHITE HOUSE EYES ONLY FOR DR. NRY KISSINGER.
1. .YOU ARE AWARE THAT NVN/VC REMAI DISTURBED BY PROSPECT
OF PEKING TALKS. THEIR ACQUIESCENCE IN RUSSIAN/FRENCH CP
EXCLUSION OF MAOIST FACTIONS FROM VERSAILLES CONFERENCE.:
WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED IN PEKING.
2.4 RECOMMEND THAT AFTER PEKING VISIT YOU CONSIDER
SENDING 'PRIVATE MESSAGE TO NORTH VIETNAMESE THAT. UNLESS
THEY PERMIT ACCESS TO PRISONERS BY NEUTRAL BODY AND
EXCHANGE OF SICK AND WOUNDED WE WILL SUSPEND NOT TERMINATE)
TALKS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. I HAVE ALREADY DEALT WITH'
THUY' SSTATEMENT THAT ACCESS CANNOT BE 'GRANTED BECAUSE.
IT MIGHT TRIGGER U. S. COMMANDO RAID. IT WOULD BE SIMPLE . .
MATTER TO BRING PRISONERS TO NEUTRAL MEDICAL BODY IN
HANOI FOR INSPECTION WITHOUT REVEALING LOCATIONS OF
DETENTION CANift. OR NVN COULD HAVE CLOSEUPS TAKEN OF.-
PRISONERS PERIODICALLY FOR SENDING TO THEIR FAMILIES.'
3. IN SUSPENDING TALKS HERE ON THIS ISSUE IT WOULD NOT BE
NECESSARY TO MAKE MENTION OF PRIVATE MESSAGE THOUGH FACT
OF IT HAVING BEEN SENT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO US LATER.
4. WARM REGARDS AND BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS. OF PRESIDENT'S
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/10: LOC-HAK-20-5-5-8