CABLE TO ELLSWORTH BUNKER FROM HENRY KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 3, 2011
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: November 26, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
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TONBUK A BUNKER CHANNEL
HAKTO 30
TOP~,'LZ/SENSITIVE. /EYES ONLY
TN COURSE DtiR t ST
I N PARIS
wE NAVE BECOME SERIOUSLY ,CONCERNED THAT
PRESIDENT TAIEU NAS NOT RPT NOT RECEIVED AN ACCURATE
IMPRESSION OF THE ~SITUA?ION TN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES
AND THE NATURE' OF THE COURSE OF ACTION '~7E PROPOSE TO
TAKE. T Ate THEREFORE SENDING YOU IN THIS MESSAGE TWp
'ITEMS WHICH WE HAVE GIVEN TO GVN REPS PARIS AND HAVE
ASKED THEM TO TRANSPORT TD THTEU. FIRST
IS A MESSAGE WHICH PRESIDENT NTXON SENT WHEN DESCRIBING
THE CONGRESSIONAL SITUATT'ON HE WILL FACE JANUARY 3 IF
WE DO NOT RPT NOT HAVE AN AGRr EMENT BY THAT TTt~E `THE
RECORD TS A DESCRIPTION OF OllR PREFERRED COURSE~OF
ACTION TO BREAK OUR CURRENT NEGOTIATION IMPASSE. WE HAVE
GIVEN THE TEXT OF THE LATTER TD' DU~C. tdE HAVE DESCRIBED
THE LATTER ORALLY TN THE CONTEXT OF THE OPTIONS WE SEE
OPEN TO US ...
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
25X1
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
YOU SHOULD IN5IST?OUR IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT "
THIEU AND DELIVER TO HIM PERSONALLY THE TWO,TEXTSIWHICH
FOLL041. YOU SHOU~,p TELL HIM THAT IT ~S IMPERATIVE -FOR
DUC TO DOME TD ASHINGTON IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT WILL GIVE,ME MY FINAL INSTRUCTIONS ON ~ "
DECEMBER 1 RPT l AND I WILL LEAVE FOR PARIS DECEMBER
3 RPT 3. THIEU MUST BE PREPARED TO REACH A DECISION 'ON THE'
SUBSTANCE. OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS PRIOR TO THAT TIME AND
MUST THEREFORE HAVE AT LEAST ONE TURN AROUND OF COM-
MUNICATIONS WITH THIEU BEFORE I DEPART. YOU SHOULD MAKE
-ABSOLUTELY CLEAN .TO THIEU THAT YOU ARE MERELY DELIVERING
THESE TEXTS TO HIM IN SAIGON I~N ORDER"TO BE ABSOLUTELY
CERTAIN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN?ACCURATELY RECEIVED. YOU
WILL NOT RPT NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE OR EVEN DISCUSS THEIR,
SUBSTANCE WITH HIM. THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE BETWEEN DUC
AND PRESIDENT~NIXON. YOU SHOULD HOWEVER URGE THIEU TO
INSURE THAT DUC PROCEEDS .TO WASHINGTON AS SOON AS ,
P05SIBLE . IF THERE dRE DELAYS IN THIS MEETING THE
PRESIDENT WILL PROCEED WXTHOUT THIEU.
THIEU. MUST BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS ACTIVE
IN THE CONTEXT OF AN INEXORABLE DEADLINE. ASSOCIATED
WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW.CONGRESS ON~JANUARY 3.
TO AVOID THE CERTAIN DISASTER POSED BY THE INEVITABLE
ACTION OF THAT CONGRESS ~ AGREEMENT MUST BE REACHED
WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE THE CONGRESS .CONVENES SO
THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CAN PREPARE ITS PROGRAM OF
ACTION XW 7HAT CONGRESS FROM 'THE AREMISE OF A VIET
NAIL AGREEMENT .
THE TEXT OF THE ARESIDE'NT'S MESSAGE TO ME FOLLOWS:
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
I HAVE CHECKED TODAY AS TO THE ATTITUDE. OF THE LEADING
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO SUPPORT US IN THE?SENATE ON
`VIETNAM. IN PREPARING THEM FOR THE CONSULTATION WHICH 'MUST
TAKE PLACE ONCE AGREEMENTS IS REACHED WE HAUE INFORMED THEM
OF TH,E KEY ELEMENTS OF THE OCTOBER 8 AGREEMENT --THE RETURN
OF OUR POWS, A CEASEFIRE, AND THE FORMULA UNDER THIEU REMAINS IN POWER
AND ALL SOUTH VIETNAMESE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A FREE
ELECTION TO DETERMINE WHAT GOVERNMENT THEY WANT. FOR THE FUTURE.
THE RESULT OF THIS CHECK INDICATES THAT THEY WERE NqT ONLY
UyA~lIMOUS BUT VSHEMENT IN STATING THEIR CONCLUSIONS THAT IF
SAIGON IS THE QNL'Y ROADBLOCK FOR REACHING AGREEMENT ON THIS BASIS
THEY WILL PERSONALLY LEAD THE FIGHT WHEN~THE NEW CONGRESS
RECO~aVENES ON JANUARY 3 TO CUT OF ALL MILITARY AND E,CDNOMIC ASSISTANCE
TO SAIGON. MY EVALUATIDN IS THAT THE DATE OF THE CUT OFF
WOULD BE FEBRUARY "1. THEY FURTHER BELIEVE THAT UNDER SUCH
CIRCUMSTANCES WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO IT ALONE AND TO MAKE. .
A SEPARATE DEAL WITH,NORTH VIETNAM FOR THE RETURN OF OUR
POWS AND FOR OU~t WITHDRAWL. ~ ~ .
THESE ARE- ME~I WHO HAVE LOYALLY SUPPORTED US QN NOVEMBER 3,
CA~7BODIA, LAOS AiVD ~IAY 8. THEY HAVE GREAT AFFECTION FOR THE
SOUTH VIETNAMESE PEGPLE AND GREAT RESPECT FOR PRESIDENT THIEU
PERSONALLY, BUT THEY PAINT OUT THAT THE VOTES IN THE SENATE
THIS PAST .YEAR F4R ~APPROFRIATIONS FOt~~ SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT IN
VIETNAM HAVE BEEN WON ONLY BY GREAT EFFORT AND BY VERY SMALL
MARGINS. THEY ALSO POINT OUT THAT THIS TIME THE HOUSE CANNOT
SAVE AppROPRIATIONS BECAUSE THE SENATE WOULD BLOCK ANY HOUSE MOVE
TO RESTORE FUNDS 6~HICH , INCIDENTALLY, IN VIEW OF THE MAKEUP
DF TNE NEW HOUSE.:?IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY, BY SIMPLY LETTING THE .
APPROPRIAT-IONS BILL DIE IN CONFERENCE. .
THIS MESSAGE,UNLESS YOU HAVE STRONG FEELINGS OTHER4lISE~,
SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY PASSED ON THROUGH THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ~ ,
NEGOITIATORS TO THIEU. TELL HIM THE FAT IS IN THE FIRE. IT IS
TI,~IE TO FI5H OR CUT BAIT. t~lE DO NOT .WANT TO GA IT ALONE. I
PERSONALLY WANT TQ STAND BY THIEU AND TNc SOUTH VIETNAMESE
GOVERNMENT BL1T AS I HAVE' TOLD HIM IN THREE SEPARATE MESSAGES,
WHAT REALLY" COUNTS IS NOT THE AGREEMENT BUT MY DETERMINATION
TO TAKE MASSIVE ACTION AGAINST NORTH VIETNAM IN THE EVENT
THEY BREAK TNE AGREEMENT. THE NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS IN
THE SOUTH MEAN ABSQLUTELY NOTHING IN THAT EVENTUALITY: IF THEY HAD
NO FORCES THERE AT ALL AND I REFUSED TO ORDER AIR RETALIATION OP! THE
NORTH WHEN. INFILTRATION STARTED TO BEGIN, THE WAR WOULD BE RESUt+lED
AVD THE OUTCOME_`Wt~WLD BE VERY MUCH IN DOUBT.
T4 HENRY 'KISSINi3ER -~
FROM THE. PREaIbEl11't
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
 F No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
YOU MUST TELL THIEU THAT I. FEEL WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE
CROSSROADS WHETHER HE TRUSTS ME AND SIGNS WHAT I HAVE
DETERMINED IS 'IHE BEST AGREEMENT WE CAN GET OR WE HAVE TO GO
IT ALONE AND ENp OUR OWN INVOLVEMENT I"' THE WAR ON THE BEST TERMS WE
CAN GET. I Da NbT GIVE HIM THIS VERY TOUGH OPTION BY PERSONAL
DESIRE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL REALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
IT IS NO'T P.OS~IHLE FOR ME, EVEN WITH THE MASSIVE MANDATE I
.PERSONALLY RECEIVED IN THE ELECTION, TO GET THE SUPPORT FROM
A HOSTILE CONQ~tESS TO CONTINUE THE WAR ,WHEN THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
ON OCTOBER $ OFFERED AN AGREEMENT WHICH WAS FAR BETTER THAN .
BOTH THE HOUSE A~1D THE SENATE BY RESOLUTION AND DIRECTIVE
TO THE PRESIDENS DURING THIS LAST SESSION INDICATED THEY
THOUGHT WE OUf3HT TO ACCEPT.
,TELL THIEl~.'THAT I CANNOT KEEP THE LID ON HIS STRONG
S UPPORTEBS I~1'~~E~HOUSE AND SENATE MUCH LONGER. THEYITRZSTERRIBLY
DISTURBED BY {SHAT THEY READ APJD HEAR OUT OF SAIGON.
TIME FOR US TQ QEP-IDE TO GO FORt+tARD TOGETHER 0R TO GO OUR
SEPARATE WAYS,. IF WE GO SEPARATE WAYS, ALL THAT WE FOUGHT FOR
FOR SO MANY YEARS, WILL BE L05T. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, HE
WILL JOIN US IN GOING FORWARD TOGETHER DN THE COURSE I HAVE.
LAID OUT WE CAN OVER THE LONG PULLf WI.N A VERY SIGNIFXCANT
VLCTORY.' ~ .' , .
THE THxRD OPTION OF OUR TRYING TO CONTRNIS SIMPLUFNOTARD
TOGETHER ON TH:~ 'BASIS OF CONTINUING THE WA
OPEN. THE DOOM HpS BEEN SLAMMED SHUT HARD AND FAST BY THE
LONG TIME SUPPBRTERS OF THE HARD LINE IN VIETNAM IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE. WHO CONTROL THE PURSE STRINGS.
END OF MESSAGE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
PAGE THREE.
THE SUBSTANCE OF .OUR PREFERRED COURSE OF ACTION FOLLO#IS:
CA) ON THE POLITICAL ISSUE, WE WOULD GET THE PROPER
VIETNAMESE LAtst6UAQE USAGE FOR"ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE"
"CO CAN LANH CHANH". WE WOULD
LEAVE IN THE PHRASE "THREE EQUAL SEGMENTS"; BUT WOULD ADD "TO
BE APPOINTED EQUALLY BY THE TWO PARTIES".
(B) ON THE WITHDRAWAL ISSUE, WE WOULD GET DEMOBILIZATION
DEFINED "ON A ONE FOR ONE BASIS" AND STIPULATE THAT THE TWO
PARTIES "WILL DO THEIR UTMOST" TO COMPLETE THE CONTEMPLATED
DE;~OBILTZATION WITHIN THREE MONTHS, THEREBY LINKING THIS
DEt~OBTLTZA?ION WITN 'OTHER "RECONCILIATION" STEPS SUCH AS
THE RELEASE OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS DETAINED BY THE TWO
PARTIES. ~tARTTCl.E S tC) ) WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE SEPARATE TREATMENT
OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS WILL STAND AS AGREED iN OCTOBER. 22 TEXT)
tC) TN ADDITION TO THESE TWO FIXES OF THE ACTUAL TEXT OF THE
DOCUMENT. THERE WOULD BE UNDERSTANDINGS WHICH WILL BE IN WRITTE
FOR', BUT WILL NOT APPEAR IN THE PUBLISHED TEXT TN ACCORDANCE
WITH WHICH A GIVEN NUMBER OF NVA TROOPS WILL WITHDRAW FROM
SVN IN RETURN FOR THE~GVN RELEASE OF A GIVEN NUMBER OF GIVILIAN
PRISONERS. THE EXAGT NUMBERS WLLL BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE
GVN AND THE PRG, BUT WILL BE INTENDED TO ESTA3LISH THE
BEGIPIPIINGS OF A .BARGAINING PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THTEU CAN
U.SE THE GRADUATED RELEASE OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS TO ACHIEVE
T1-IE GRADUATED WITHDRAWAL OF NVA TROOPS.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1 ~ ?
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1
~.v
THIEU SHOULD ALSO BE INFORMED THAT WE BELIEVE THE NET
RESULT OF ONE RENEWED SERIES OF NEGDTIATIDN5 WILL HAVE
BEEN TO OBTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DRAFT. TEXT IN ALL FIVE
AREAS WHERE THIEU CONSIDERED IT DEFICIENT:
A. A. THHE NVA WITHDRAWALS
B? THE NATxONAL COUNCIL OF NATIONAL CDNSILIATION AND
cotucoRa ~ ?
C : TH,E DMZ ~ '
D. CAMBODIA AND LAOS
E. .SUPPLY OF MILITARY Et~UIPMENT
WE UNDERSTAND NHA WILL CARRY A LETTER TD PARIS WHICH
DUC WILL THEN DELIVER TD PRESIDENT NIX0~1. IT IS IMPERATIVE
THAT THIS LETTER BE RELE1dANT TO REALITY. THEREFORE XN
YOUR TONE ANH YOUR BEARING YOU MUST EMPHASIZE THAT WE ARE
AT THE E~tD OF THE LINE AND THAT 'THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE LAST GRANGE
T~tIE'U HAS TO COME TD GRIPS WITH A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TD THE
CURRENT IMP~ASSE? AFTER DECE;98ER 1 FAILING GVN AGREEMENT
4~E WILL PROCEED UNILATERAI:LLY . YQU ARE NDT AUTHORIZED
TO NEGOTIATE IN ANY WAY WITH THIEU DN THE CONTENTS OF THIS
MESSAGE OR ON THE CURRENT STATE 'OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ? ANY
QUESTIONS OF THIS KLt1D ARE TO BE 'REFERRED TO THE DUC MEETING
WITH PRESIDENT' NIXaN': YDU ARE TO HENCEFORTH DECLINE FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS WI?H THIEU UNTIL THE DUC MEETING WITH THE
PRESIDENT HAS OCCURRED.. -
t~tARM REGARDS. A ~ ?
i
TAP
r~~~'e~ ~ ! ~~E
YES ~~~~~~
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/03/03 : LOC-HAK-490-9-25-1 ~ ~