PROVIDING INTRODUCTIONS IN VIETNAM FOR HAROLD WILLENS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-241-5-23-3
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: April 8, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/11/28: LOC-HAK-241-5-23-3
April 8, 1971
BACKCHANNEL VIA CAS 40
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FROM: DR. KISSINGER C.
LJ3c 103b
SUBJECT: Providing Introductions 'in Vietnam for Harold Willens
1. Thank you for your readiness to provide some introductions for Mr. Willens.
Although we do not expect him to come back a changed man we hope the steps
you take will give him some perspective.
2. Mr. Willens plans to arrive in Saigon on Friday, April 9, and will get in
touch with your office on Friday or Saturday.
3. Mr. Willens hopes to stay in Vietnam for about ten to twelve days. He
says that he is deeply interested in the upcoming elections, and particularly
hopes to obtain some information on them. However he also hopes to get some
perspective on the situation in the countryside and he is looking forward to
meeting with you and with Chuck Cooper. (Bill Colby has suggested that Thieu
take Willens on one of his barnstorming trips. )
4. We have told Mr. Willens that he is going to Vietnam at a very busy time
and that this would limit the Embassy's ability to help him. We have also
told him that we cannot guarantee appointments with Vietnamese but that we
will assist him in this regard.
5. Since Willens will be travelling essentially on his own, we would not expect
that he would be a constant burden on the Embassy but would only ask for limited
assistance. We regret he was unable to delay his trip.
6. It is possible that Willens will overlap with Congressman McCloskey and
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/11/28: LOC-HAK-241-5-23-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/11/28: LOC-HAK-241-5-23-3
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CONFIDENTIAL 2
may try to join the Congressman for a brief period. Obviously, any
actions whichyoutake to help Willens are for him alone and should
not include McCloskey.
7. T appreciate you undertaking this burden and hope it will prove worth
while.
Warm regards,
CONFIDENTIAL
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/11/28: LOC-HAK-241-5-23-3