CABLE TO ALEXANDER HAIG FROM R. T. KENNEDY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-248-2-22-0
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2010
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: December 22, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/06: LOC-HAK-248-2-22-0
00 w1E22
DE WTE 4610 3570257
0 2202502 DEC 7:2
FM R.T. KENNEDY
To . GENERAL HAIG TUNA IG 5
S E C R E T SENSITIVE 'WH2'9946
TOHAIG 53
DECEMBER 21, 1972
TO: GENERAL HAIG
FROM: COLONEL KENNEDY
..
W
THE BRIEF CARVER PAPER ON THIEU, WHICH I MENTIONED IN MY E&RIIER
MESSAGE, IS ATTACHED. THE YS REFERENCE, HAS BEEN SENT SEPARATELY
To YOU.
WARM REGARD.
1. MR.-KENNEDY RELAYED THIS MORNING (2) DECEMBER) YOUR REQUEST
ERR AN ASSESSMENT OF PRESIDENT THIEU'S CURRENT ATTITUDE WITH RESPECT
To THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF NEGOTIATIONS AND OF HIS PROBABLE BFHAVIIIR
WITH REGARD TO COOPERATING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SETTLF-
ME'NT WE MAY BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH HANOI. ACTUALLY, MUCH OF TN
GROUND WAS COVERED IN THE 12 DECEMBER MESSAGE RESPONDING TO YOUR
REQUEST FROM PARIS (RELAYED BY GENERAL HAIG) FOR A DETAILER
'ASSESS.MENT OF THIEU'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEECH. . WHEN I GAVF
THAT 12 DECEMBER MEMORANDUM TO GENERAL HAIL, AND AFTER WE HAD
DISCUSSED IT, HE INDICATED THAT HE WAS G RELAY, IT TO YOU IN,
ITS ENTIRETY VIA SOME WHITE HOUSE I DO NOT XNDW THE
NUMBER OR NOMENCLATURE' OF THE CABLE BY WHICH IT WAS SENT TO YOU
IN PARIS, BUT A COPY OF ITS TEXT IS. APPENDED HERETO.
2. IN THIS GENERAL SPHERE, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO DEVELOPMENTS
SINCE 12 DECEMBER THAT ARE,LIKELY TO IMPACT ON THIEU#,S ATTITUDE OR
BEHAVIOR: THE RESUMPTION OF U.S. AERIAL ATTACKS NORTH OF THE
20TH PARALLEL (WITH ATTENDANT RESEEDING OF THE MINES BLOCKING
.NtTRTH VIETNAM'S PORTS.) AND GENERAL' HAIO'S VISIT TO SAIGON.
REPORTING
3. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY
_____________________
OWN THIEU'S MOOD SINCE THE BOMBING WAS R UMED, B VIOUSLY
WILL .HAVE WELCOMED THIS MOVE. HIS RESULTANT GOOD HUMOR MAY MAKE
HIM SOMEWHAT EASIER TO TALK TO, BUT HE WILL NOT NECESSARILY' BECOME
END PAGE ONE
MORE SUBSTANTIVELY FLEXIBLE. INSTEAD, HE. WILL ALMOST. CERTAINLY
FEEL THAT OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE ADVISABILITY OR NECESSITY OF SUCH
MORI/CDF
C05141064
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/06: LOC-HAK-248-2-22-0
*#* S E C R E I
****S COPY
AM ACTION VINDICATES 1I'S.EARLIER NEGATIVE ESTIMATE OF HANOI'S
"SERIOUSNESS" OR GOOD FAITH AND THAT, IN THE EVENT. HE WAS WISE
NOT TO LET HIMSELF BE STAMPEDED.
4. I CANNOT PROFITABLY COMMENT ON. THE IMPACT OF GENERAL HAIG'S
VISIT SINCE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HE SAID TG PRESIDENT TH!EU, rip, VICE
VERSA, THE CONTENTS OF PRESIDENT NIXON'S LETTER OR THOSE OF THIEU'S
REPLY. THE ONE REFLECTION WE HAVE SO FAR RECEIVED ON T14 M
Of THIS VISIT IS CONTAINED IN YS-531, 21 DECEMBER 1972.?
KHIEM'S COMMENTS Ttl SENIOR U. S. OFFICIALS ALWAYS
SELF-SERVING, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE KH.IEM'S REMARKS ABOUT THI
AND THE LATTER+S? REACTIONS, HAVE THE RING OF AUTHENTICITY.
'a". KHIEM'S COMMENTS PROVIDE 'A MODEST MEASURE OF INDEPENI)
SUPPORT FOR THE ATTACHED PAPER'S CENTRAL THESIS: THAT THIFU
PROBABLY PREPARED (AT.LEAST PRIVATELY) TO RE COOPERATIVE --
EVENTUALLY ... ON ALL ISSUES SAVE ONE. GIVEN HIS PSYCHOLOGY,
U
NT
Is
TEMPERAMENT AND POLITICAL POSITION HE CANNOT AND ALMOST CERTAINLY
WILL NOT SIGN AWAY THE GVN'S LEGAL RIGHT TO EXISTENCE.
KHIEM COVERS THIS POINT WITH THE'SOMEWHAT MISLEADING PHRASE.OF
"THE JURIDICAL PRESENCE OF NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS I N SOUTH VIETNAM."
THE TROOPS, OF COURSE, BOTHER THIFU AND HE OBVIOUSLY WANTS THEM OUT.
THE REAL ISSUE, HOWEVER-9 IS NOT THE NORTHERN TROOPS BUT THE.
JURIDICAL CONCEPT OF "VIETNAM" THAT DEFINES THEIR STATUS.
THIEU CANNOT, AND WILL' NOT, OFFICIALLY ENDORSE THE CONCEPT THAT
AND HENCE, BY DEFINITION, NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS IN THE SOUTH
ARE. NOT "FOREIGN." THE REASONS WHY THIS IS, AND (TO TMIEU) HAS
To BE, A CENTRAL ISSUE ON WHICH THIEU FEELS HE CANNOT BUDGE ARE.
DISCUSSED IN THE ATTACHED PAPER.
630
PSNxO195S
01, DEC
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/08/06: LOC-HAK-248-2-22-0