CABLE TO ALEXANDER HAIG FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-505-3-30-4
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2011
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: October 23, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/09/30: LOC-HAK-505-3-30-4
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T 0 P S E C R T SENSITIVE 239455Z OCT 72 VIA CAS CHANNELS (BUNKER)
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER . SAIGON 1229 FLASH
TO: THE WHITE HOUSE, EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY FOR GENERAL HAIG
HAX TO 50
1. I HAVE ASKED 81INKER TO REPORT MORE,' ULLY ON,THE CONVERSATION
WITH THI TJ THIS MORNING, AND THE CABLE TO GUAY GIVES YOU MY STRATEGY
TO THE NORTH VIETNAMESE. . THIS MESSAGE WILL TELL YOU
WITH 111 E
u!HAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE OUR INTENTIONS OVER THE NEXT WEEKS.
I SHOULD HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AS SOON AS THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
REACTION.T,S CLEAR. I WOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE. IF THE OTHER SIDE
H. S NOT REPEAT NOT GONE PUBLIC, I ~r-'?ULD SAY THAT WE AR,E WORKING
DILIGENTLY TOWARD A SETTLEMENT AND HAVE, MADE MAJOR PROGRESS. THERE
HAVE BEEN MANY-NEWS STORIES, NONE OF THEM FULLY ACCURATE, AND I WILL
NOT GO INTO SUBSTANTIVE DETAIL SO AS TO THE PRESERVE THE NEGOTIATING'
PROCESS. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT AT THE END OF NEGOTIATIONS THERE ARE-
ALWAYS DETAILS TO BE' IROt4ED OUT AND DIFFERENT PROBLEMS IN DIFFERENT
CONTEXTS. I WOULD STEER ALL FOCUS AWAY FROM THIEU AS BEING THE
PROBLE,'.
IF THE OTHER SIDE HAS GONE PUBLIC, I WOULD SAY THAT THE AGREEMENT
SPEAKS FOR' ITSELF AND THAT W,)E ARE STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT THE FINAL
DETAILS. ^,JAIN 'I WOULD MAKE A. MAXIMUM EFFORT TO KEEP THIEU FROM
BEING THE TARGET, AND WOULD MENTION? THE PROBLEM OF THE ENTIRE NORTH
VIETNAMESE FIELD ARMY BEING IN THE SOUTH.
IN EITHER CASE I- WOULD TAKE THE POSITION THAT MAJOR PROGRESS IS
BEING MADE AND THAT I AM CARRYING OUT THE PRESIDENT'S FIRM INJUNCTION
NOT TO WORK AGAINST ANY DEADLINE. I WOULD SAY THAT THE FUTURE OF THIEU
WAS NOT THE ISSUE, BUT WOULD REFUSE TO GET INTO DETAILS ON CONTENT
IN' ORDER TO PROTECT THE NEGOTIATIONS.
3., AS FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE PROBLEMS, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE
ANOTHER PRIVATE SESSION WITH THE NORTH VIETNAMESE. WE WOULD MAKE A
'"AXIrUX', EFFORT TO GET FROM THEM `SOME CONCESSIONS, EVEN IF ONLY
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COSMETIC, SO AS .TO ENABLE THIEU TO SAVE FACE. BUNKER WILL BE TALKING
TO HIX IN THE MEAN-TIME. IF THIEU STILL BALKS WE WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER
A BILATERAL DEAL. THIS WOULD BE EITHER TO EXTRICATE OUR FORCES,
VXICH '!OUL D HAVE MANY DISADVANTAGES INCLUDING THE LEAVING ASIDE OF
LAOS (;^'D C,hMBODIA; OR ESSENTIALLY THE SAME DEAL WE NOW HAVE WHICH
THE, DRV AND U.S. , WOULD' RECOMMEND TO THE SOUTH-VIETNAMESE PARTIES
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING WITH 'THIEU THAT HE WOULD ACCEPT IT RELUCTANTLY
ON THAT BASIS.
4. IN VIEW OF THE COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING
I WANT TO, EMPHASIZE AGAIN ,THAT THIS PROCESS WOULD NOT REPEAT NOT
GET INTO GEAR TILL NEXT WEEK,? BJJT IT SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE
VID-DECEMBER.
5. ''!TTH REGARD TO THE AUGMENTED MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THIEU,
PLEASE BE SURE THAT' WE STOP EVERYTHING THAT IS UNDER OUR CONTROL AND
$LOW DOWN ,T`HE REMAINDER SUCH AS THE F-5'S.
WARM REGARDS.
rVAi
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/09/30: LOC-HAK-505-3-30-4