CABLE TO JON HOWE FROM ALEXANDER HAIG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-448-3-2-9
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: July 2, 1970
• Content Type: CABLE

-r No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22 : LOC-HAK448-3-2-9 2, 1970
TO JON HOWE (WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM)
Please forward the following message to Ambassador Bunker
via CAB chanameis i
FOR AMBASSADOR BUNKER
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER
The President has again mentioned his concern that the recent
flurry of press speculation on new political initiatives will generate
mistrust and suspicion on the part of President Thiou and the GVN.
For this reason, ii. bas asked me to re nest that you bring to President
T'hieo's attention the President's statement concerning coalition
government and, negotiated settlement made during last night's nation-
wide TV interview. At the o%tset of this program, the President made
the following
"There to only one matter that is not subject to negotiations.
and that is the right of the South Vietnamese to determine their ow n
future. That is one of the reasons, for maple, that the speculation
with regard to our having changed our position and agreeing possibly to
now offer a coalition government, a negotiated settlement, imposing a
coalition government,, that speculation is not correct. It is not correct
TOP SENSITIVE EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-448-3-2-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-448-3-2-9
rOP SZCR. T/ NSZTIVE EYES ONLY W
because, if we were to negotiate with the North Vietnamese and decide
that we would have a coalition government and impose it on the South
Vietnamese, that is a government without their choice.
"If the South Vietnamese. on the other hand. in the free
political process. should co.. l4-Communist as well as non-Communist,
and out of that should come a government that is mixed, that is up
we will not impose a coalition government against the
will and wither the consent of the people of South Vietnam. "
The President hopes that you will be able to bring this to
President ThLeu'a personal attention as reaffirmation of U. S. Policy
OR this is sue.
Hest regards.
TOP SECRET SENSITIVE EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-448-3-2-9