CABLE TO HENRY A. KISSINGER FROM ELLSWORTH BUNKER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-3-43-7
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 2, 2012
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: April 1, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/10/02: LOC-HAK-490-3-43-7 ,
0 011135Z APR 71
FM WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM '
TO GENERAL HA IG FOR.',D11 KISSINGER
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?THE WHITE.; mum Eyes ONLY FOR., HENRY A ? KISSINGER '
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? Tiit MY LAI tAsroiEvER AROUSED THE DEGREE OF INTEREST, EMOTION
,CONCERN IN VIETSM4 THAT IT GENERATED in THE UNITED STATES. TO A ?
NSIDERABLE fr.DEGREE.'1HE GENERAL FEELING WAS THAT THE OCCURENCE WAS
REGRETTABLE, BUT THAT IT WAS THE 'KIND OF THING WHICH OCCASIONALLY
HAPPENED IN W Aft.- THE -FACT THAT WE CARRIED OUT, A THOROUGH INVESTI?.
GAT ION OF THE -INCIDENT AND BROUGHT TO TRIAL THOSE HELD RESP041EIPLE
AROUSED SOME EXPRE,SSIONS ,OF APPROVAL. SELF.'?CRITICISM, A DESIRE TO
E "JUSTICE IIONt; A .,10,ILLINCU,IESS TO PC PT BLAME WERE LOOKED UPON
AS VIRTUES. -**OY' ? ?
?MY FEELING' /S; HOWEVER . THAT A COMMUTATION THROUGH REDUCTION OF
THE SEt4TENCE BY THE PRESIDENT WOULD NOT ON BALANCE HAVE UNFAVORABLE-
?.EFFEcrs HERE. THE ?MILITARY, I THINK. WILL 'CONSIDER- A SENTENCE OF
LIFE IMPRISONMENT EXCESSIVE. I BELIEVE THERE ?IS ? ALSO A FEELING
THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY . FOR MY LAI IS NOT CALLEY'S ALONE AID THAT,
IF THERE IS GUILT IT IS MORE WIDELY SHARED. THERE ARE PROBABLY
ELEMENTS AMONG THE OPPOSITION, SUCH AS DISSIDENT STUDENTS AND OTHER
FACT IONS, WHO ,W ILL CRITICIZE A COMMUTATION. THE VIET CO NG !'ILL
ENDEAVOR TO STIMULATE SUCH A REACTION. MY BEST JUDGMENT. HOWEVER .
IS THAT COMMUTATION' BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENTENCE' TO MORE
MODERATE TERMS ON THE, WHOLE WOULD SE ACCEPTABLE. I DO NOT THIfl
NK
IT vOLILD HAVE: ADVERSE POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS AS FAR AS THIEU IS
. CONGER NED
3. WARMEST REGAR
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
?;?:.
1
'EYES ONLY
.14,14.414.10i1;6044 4
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/10/02 : LOC-HAK-490-3-43-7