CABLE TO AL HAIG FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-8-3-6
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: October 3, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/12/16 LOC-HAK-490-8-3-6
T O P F. I'll n L. I r U ?a A , .: , " w ,. A . ~.. .~ "
VIn, 1P7K..-~.C.HA1\1n A1~,
FROM HENRY vISSINGER?
TO COL BROWN FOR CEN HAIG
CITE !,'1-!r?,199
TOHA IC 33
DELIVER 6:30 AM LOCAL
OCTOBER 3, 1972
TO AL HAIG
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
FPOM: HENRY A. KISSINGER
1. 0!?R NEW YORK FRIENDS HAVE CALLED TO SAY THEY HAVE AN IMPOPTAr`1T
MESSAGE !?'HICH THEY WANT TO DELIVER TO ME PERSONALLY. I AM PICYI"iC?
IT !JP LATE TONIGHT OUR TIME. I 'FILL !'-ANT TO GET IT TO Y01.! IF IT
BEARS ON YOUR EFFORTS THERE, AND YOU SHOT..1LD MAVE ARRANGEN"EN1TS TO
BE Sl,!RF THAT IF WE SEND IT. IT CAM BE DELIVERED TO YOU VNEPE1117.R
YO1.! MAY E.
?. THE YORE I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE COMVINCED I Am
THAT 'JE SHOULD NOT SURFACE THE IDEA OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!
BY CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. IT IS SIMPLY TOO CONFUSING A S!!BJECT TO
prTSE NOW. INDEED, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD SURFACE IT AT ALL.
THE NORTH VIETNAMESE MUST DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT A PPFSIDFNTIAL
ELECTION. IF SO, IT MUST BE BY POP1.1LAP VOTE. IF THEY WILL NOT
ACCEPT 'A POPULAR VOTE THEN THEY MUST GO THE ROUTE OF A CONSTIT,,,!EFIT
ASSE!^BLY TO DRAFT A NEY COAISTITUTIOM.
3. I Am OF DIVIDED MIND WHETHER THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD RE DRA.FTFD
BY CONSTITUENT. ASSEMBLY.OF BY COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTE ROUTE HAS
THE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNANIMITY RULE. ON THE OTHER HAND. THE
COr15TITUENT ASSEMBLY MAY NEVER AT ALL AND, IF IT DOES, IT IS
LIKELY TO BE DOMINATED BY GVN SUPPORTERS. ON THIS PHESTION, WE WILL
DO EXACTLY WHAT THIEt! PERFERS.
4. YOU SHOULD MAKE- ABSOLUTELY CLEAR TO THIEU THAT ANY SOLUTION
t?:'HICH DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE MEEPING OF A NON-COMMUNIST STR1iCTI?RE
INTACT IN SAIGON IS,TOTALLY INACCEPTABLE TO US. THE MORE I THINK
OF IT, THE LESS I LIKE THE IDEA OF HIS RESIGNING. I HAVE COT THE
PRESIDENT ABOARD ON THIS. I HAVE ALREADY TOLD GROMYKO THAT IN THE
FpAME'I:'OR!C OF THE PRESENT NORTH VIETNAMESE PROPOSALS A THIE1.1
RE'SICP!ATION IS UNACCEPTABLE._,. HE DID NOT BRIDLE. YOU ARE FREE TO
11SE THIS.
5. I 4"1OULD NOT PLAN ON SURFACING WITH THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AT
ONE TIME THE FULL PACKAGE WHICH YOU APE NO!,' DISCUSSING. FOP
EXAMPLE, 'I WOULD NOT SURFACE THE PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL StB-
COMMITTEES IN THE FIRST 00-ROUND.
6. IN SHORT, I THINK THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO STAY ESSENTIALLY
t+1ITH THE FIRST PROPOSAL WHICH YOU HAVE LAID OUT -- THE CONSTITUENT
ASSEMBLY G, !ITHOUT_:RESIGNATION AND WITH THE POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BY POPULAR VOTE.
7. THE SOVIETS PROMISED THEIR HELP, AND I AM ALMOST INCLINED TO
BELIEVE THEM.
S. CONCERNING YOUR DEPARTURE TIME (HAIGTO 009), YO!T DO NOT NEED
TO PRESS FOR EARLY TAKE-OFF. MAKE WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEST
FOR YOII WHICH WILL ASSURE-YOU ARE BACK BY OPENING OF BUSINESS
THURSDAY.
WARM REGARDS..
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/12/16: LOC-HAK-490-8-3-6