1. I SAW THIEU THIS MORNING AND GAVE HIM LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AS CONTAINED REFTEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 3, 2011
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: November 19, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/03/03: LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
1972 NOV 19 nm
3 29r~cr
A0 -4
06
SENSITIVE 190910Z'NOV 72 VIA CAS CHAWNELr(BUNXER)
FRO$e A I ASSADOR i ? -MOON B 7f, IMMEDIATE
TOt THE WHITE HOUSE, EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY FOR HENRY A. KISSINGER
REF1 1011; "r.25 1
SF"CTInN I nF 2
1. ' I IAV TWIEU THIS MORNINOO AND GAVE HIM LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
AS C'NTAI5ED REFTEL. THIEU READ THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER CAREFULLY, BUT
AS WTflAL MADE 40 COMMENT. HE' THEN HANDED ME LETTER DATED NOVEM-
OER 19 ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT, TEXT OF WHICH-FOLLOWS IN PARAGRAPH
it THIEH SAID THAT HE WISHED TO EMPHASIZE TWO POINTSt
1) IN THE MATTER OF THE NCRC THE GVN IS MAKING A CONCESSION
rN AGREEING THAT BOTH SIDES SHALL HAVE EQUAL REPRESENTATION
ALTHOUO14 T'RE NLF REPRESENTS ONLY ABOUT TEA PERCENT OF THE
ROP1'LATIOR*
2) THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF OVA TROOPS IS A VITAL MATTER FOR
T"E SV$, HE REALIZES IT IS DIFFICULT FOR U4 ,SINCE WE HAVE
BEEN EN!IAGED SA CLOSELY FOR A LONG PERIOD IN THE PRIVATE NEGO-
TIATIONS AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT HANOI HAS NEVER BEEN
WILLING TO ADMIT THE PRESENCE OF THEIR TROOPS IN THE SOUTH.
NF RELIEVES, THEREFORE, THAT NVA WITHDRAWAL COULD BE
ACHIEVED BY TYE GUN S1J6GESTION FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF "NON-,
SIVI'M VIETNAMESE TROOPS", THUS OBVIATING THE MENTION OF NVA
TROOPS TO THE SOUTH. THERE WOULD STILL REMAIN NVA TROOPS
IN VC "NITS WHO VOW COMPRISE 70.-SB PERCENT OF THESE UNITS;
IT ILL BE TMPOSSIBI.E TO IDENTIFY THESE FILLERS EXCEPT BY
"tYAMINIING THEIR TEETH" (I ASKED WHETHER, LIKE HORSES, ONE
Ctlr,ri..D TELL THEIR ATE BY THE SAME PROCESS). THE GVN PROPOSES
TROT ITS OWN TROOPS AND NLF FORCES ALSO BE.DEMOBILIZED ON A
IKF FOR ONE BASIS AND THAT THEY RETURN "TO THEIR NATIVE PLACES".
I cOrPFNTED THAT THE OVA FILLERS WHO MOULD THEN BE DEMOBILIZED
MIGHT THEN RETURN TO NORTH VIETNAM, BUT THIEU SAID THEY
WOULD'NOT RETURN NORTH; THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO REMAIN-IN
THE SOUTH, WHICH THEY WILL BE: rLAD TO DO,' ENJOYING A BETTER
cTiNDARD OF LIVING HERE WHILE CARRYING ON COVERT ACTIVITIES
'N INSTRUCTIONS FROM HANOI.
?. BEGIN TEXT OF LETTERt
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
DOS Review
Completed.
SAIGON, NOVEMBER 19, 1972
DEAR R. PRESIDENT,
I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 14, 1972,
ANn I P#VF STUDIED IT VERY CAREFULLY OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS9
rY COLLARORATORS AND I HAVE GONE OVER THE REVISED DRAFT
AGREFMFaiT AND ANALYZED THE PROPOSED'CHANrES WHICH YOU HAVE
O CAREF"ELY EXPLAINED TO ME, I.$ YOUR. LETTER. IN THE SPIRIT OF
THE CORDIAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE'DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO
GOVERNMENTS, T VOQMB LIVE TO CONVEY TO YOU THE CONSIDERED
VIEWS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC Of VIET NAM ON THE
FOLLOWING POINTS WHICH WE DEEM OF VITAL IMPORT'ANC11M10THE
REPUBLIC OF VIET NANt
1 00 T1&: STATUS. OF THI '!:NORTH VIETWAP SLXNOW4 A
ExlfRNeL FoRCE$ THE itnRtN VTETt1AM!1* TRQ'O1 '' ~tl "DE; "'
UNAM11TOUt"1SI, VTTFRDRAWII FRO[R'`1fl TH=`VTiET'I$WA't1k~T W, O*CLUSTON.
OPr.TI CEA,IEJIRE.
nF ITs No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/03/03: LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
 R ASR NNRNEET :r M c r WE FAN SMTT TQ I{ 'Ass ADOIR 13UNI !R
'
DAYS
V
IET NAt~':,;
DRAWA1. O WfSOUTW
rOR!E Wi re
AWHILE'' THE IDEA OF THE WITHDRAWAL - OF THE NORT
THUS
,
VIETNAMESE TROOPS -IS THERE* THE NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS IS NOT
rEATIONSED 9Y'409 Its' THE. At REEMENT.
COMCE'RNINO THE DEMOBILIZATION OF THE OPPOSITE FORCES TN
SotrTP VIET NAN .09 A ONE=TO-ONE BASIS, aE BELIEVE THAT THERE
SHOULD BE A MENTION THAT THE DEMOBILIZED TROOPS SHOULD RETURN
TO THEIR NATIVE, PLACES, TO. DEAL WITH: THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
ARMY ELEMENTS INCORPORATED IN THE SO-CALLED, VIET'.CONG UNITS.
THIS. CONSTITUTES ALREADY A SUBSTANTIAL CDRcESSIONFROM
'OR SIDE'. BECAUSE THE NORTH 'VIETNAMESE TROOPS, AS AGGRESSORS,,
SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE ALLIED.` TROOPS. IN
THIS REGARD, MAY I RECALL THAT AT THE 7 ALLIED .NATIONS SUMMIT
CONFERE1CE, HELD ON MANILA IN OCTOBER 1966, THE PRINCIPLE HAS
BEEN AGREED THAT ALLIED TROOPS ARE' TO BE WITHDRAWN ONLY SIX
N!`ONTHS AFTER-THE COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL OF THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
TROOPS TO NORTH VIET NAMN
I WOtJLD LIXE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE
NORTH VIFTNA11ESF. TROOPS TO NORTH VIET NAM IS -THEBASIC POINT
FOR THE REPU.L-IC OF VIET RAM, AND WE CANNOT. SEE HOW THERE
CANt.RE AN HON'ORABLE PEACE IF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE AGGRESSORS
IS -NOT DEALT WITH CLEARLY, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE .CEASE-FIRE.
P. CONCERNING THE POLITICAL PROVISIONS, THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM CONSIDERS THAT. THE FUNCTION OF THE,
COUNCIL OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND CONCORD SHOULD BE DESCRIBED
CLEARLY* AS AN '*ADMINISTRATIVE ORGAN IN CHARGE.: OF THE ELECTIONS".'
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIET'NAN IS WILLING
TO K:AYE AN IMPORTANT CONCESSION IN ACCEPTING TO HAVE THE NLF
PARTICIPATE ON A 51/501 BASIS IN THE COUNCIL.OF. NATIONAL RECON?
CILIA.TIO;N AND CONCORD WHILE THEY CONTROL ONLY :A VERY SMALL
PERCENTAnE OF THE POPiILATTON. BUT,' ON THE GROUND OF PRINCIPLE,
WE CANNOT ACCEPT TO GRANT THE RLF THE STATUS OF "EQUALITY" WITH
THE L#CAL GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUSLTC' OF VIET' NAM,, THEREFORE WE
CO N:S IDER THAT THE WORD "EQUALITY" AS PROPOSED I N ARTICLE 9F,
SHOULD. BF DELETED.
ALSO, AS WE NAVE POINTED OUT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, WE
CANNOT ACCEPT THE "S COMPONENTS" FORMULA FOR THE COUNCIL OF
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND CONCORD, BECAUSE IT IS' ARTIFICIAL,
IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THIS 19 A POLITICAL CONTEST BETWEEN THE
tOP SECRET:SE~S~~
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/03/03: LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
EXCLUS!VPiS ONL'
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/03/03: LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
TOP SECRET SENSITIVE~ EXCLUS!. YES ONLY
T 0. P S F C R E T SENSITIVE' 19f?10Z NOV 72 VIA CAS CHANNELS (RUNNER)
FROM: ' tAI ASSADOR BUNKER SATOOR 0276 ' IMMEDIATE
T+01 T14F WHITE HO11SE, EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY FOR HENRY A. XISSINGER
FINAL SECTION OF TWO
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPflRLIC OF VXET NAM AND .THE NLF, " AND NOT
A THREE-CORNERED CONTEST.
3. AS REGARDS THE COMPOSITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMISSION OF CONTROL AND St1PERVISIO!, WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT
ITS COMPOISITIONN, AS CONTEMPLATED IN THE PRESENT DRAFT, 19
SER1O!1SLY I 'R.ALANCED "BY THE MEMBERSHIP OF TWO COMMUNIST
COUNTR-tES, POLAND AND HUNGARY, BECAUSE IT ASSURES IN ADVANCE
AT LEAST 51 PER CENT OF THE 'VOTES ,FOR THE 'COMMUNIST SIDE.
THIS WILL HAVE VERY GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE REPUBLIC
OF VIET NAM BECAUSE.THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF CONTROL
AND SUPERVISION WILL UNDERTAKE. NOT ONLY THE SUPERVISION OF THE
CEASE-RTRF, BUT ALSO' THE SUPERVISION OF THE ELECTIONS WHICH
WILL DETERMINE .THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF SOUTH VIET NAMN
THEREFORE, WE PROPOSE THAT THIN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION
OF CONTRIL AND Sw!PERVI.SION BE COMPOSED OF 4 NEUTRALS, AND
SU40EST TYF FOLLOWING COUNTRIESi AUSTRIA, CANADA, FINLAND, AND
SWITZERL4 ND.
THE RFA'SON WHY WE FIVE PRIORITY TO THE.ABOVE MENTIONED
COUNTRIES OVER INDONESIA IS THAT, LIRE INDIA, INDONESIA HAS
EXCHANIED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH NORTH VIET RAN WHILE IT
HAS .REFUSED SA FAR TO ESTABLISH SIMILAR RELATIONS WITH THE
'REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM.
4. OR THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO.BE CONVENED AFTER
THE CEASE-FIRE, WE FEEL THAT ITS USEFULNESS WILL BE FULLY JUSTIFIED
ONLY IF IT IS HELD AFTER A CEASE-FIRE PAS BEEN ALSO CONCLUDED IN
LAOS AND CAMI..rDIA, SINCE ITS ESSENTIAL ROLE IS TO GUARANTEE
PEACE IN INDOCHINA.
RESIDES, LAOS AND CAMBODIA LOGICALLY SHOULD BE FULL
PARTICIPANTS AT THE CONFERENCE. WE DO NOT THINK THAT THERE ' ARE,
SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON THE DELEGATIONS OF THESE TWO COUNTRIES,
BECAUSE IT IS WELL KNOWN TWAT THERE IS ONLY ONE LEGAL GOVERNMENT
IN. LAOS AS WELL AS IN CAMBODIA.
5. ON TH GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE AGREEMENT, WE BELIEVE
THAT IT SHOULD LAY DOWN ABLIGATIONS FOR BOTH SIDES, AND, NOT ONLY
ON THE VICTIMS OF. AGGRESSION.
BOTH SIDES`IN THIS CONFLICT, NORTH VIET NAM AS WELL AS
SOt1H.VIET NAM, HAVE REPEATEDLY STATED THAT. PEACE. IN INDOCHINA
SHO-ULD' BE RESTORED ON THE BASIS OF THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF THE
1'934 ,AND ISIS GENEVA AGREEMENTS.. THE GOVERNMENT..OF THE
REPUDLIC :OF VIET 'NAM CONSIDERS THAT THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF
THE 1') 4 GENEVA AGREEMENT ON VIET NAM SHOULD BE REESTABLISHED
I N ThE KFr_No _Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/03/03: LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/03/03: LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
THAT IT SHOULD -LAY D1WN ABLIt3ATIONS FOR BOTH SIDES, AND- NOT ONLY
ON THE ' VICTIMS .OF - AGt3RESSION.
BOT1 SIDES TN THIS CONFLICT, NORTH VIET NAN AS WELL ' AS
SOtrrHH VIFT NAM, HavE REPEATEDLY STATED THAT. PEACE IN INDOCHINA
5n0Un0, B RESTORED, ON THE BASIS OF THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF TI
1954.;,AND, 1942. ' GENEVA AGREEMENTS, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE '
. REPUBLIC OF VIET NAN CONSIDERS THAT THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF':,'
IN THE?`NEV' AGREEMENT, SPELLING - OUT THE BILATERAL OBLIGATIONS OF
PARTICULAR .10 TME' CLAUSES PROHIBITING THE JOINING OF 'ANY MILITARY
ALLIANCE OR 'MILITARY BLOC, THE MAINTENANCE: BYFOREIGN POWERS OF
MILITARY BASES, TROOPS, MILITARY ADVISERS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL
eF THEIR RESPECTIVE TERRITORIES*
1 AM` CONVINCED. THAT THE ABOVE POINTS ARE ESSENTIAL 'TO A
JUSTv HO810RABLE AND DURABLE PEACE. WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS
.WAR. FOR `SEL74-DEFENSE FOR OVER- A DECADE 'AND ' HAVE MADE ENORMOUS
`SACRIFICES IN 'THIS STRUGGLE. IN ALL CANDOR. I DO NOT COMPREHEND
WHY THE BASIC PRINCIPLES WHICH' FOR YEARS WE HAVE HELD AS
IND3SPENSABL.E FOR. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GENUINE PEACE SHOULD
AE, NOW RA iFICED JUST TO MEET CERTAIN CLOSE DEADLINES WHICH
THE ENEMY HAS IMPOSED ON US, OR WHICH WE HAVE ;IMPOSED OR
OURSELVES.
N3 'PEQPLE, ARE LONGING FOR PEACE MORE THAN OUR TWO
PEOPLES, AND 'I AM MOST ANXIOUS TO.' BRING. PEACE TO MY PEOPLE
,AS SOON AS' POSSIBLE. HOWEVER,' PUBL'I.C OPINION AND HISTORY WILL
JUDGE US 00. THE KIND PF PEACE WHICH WE-SMALL BRING ABOUT.
i DO NOT THT.NX THAT I CAN ADF'QUATELY EXPLAIN TO YOU THE
G ?VER 1P+?EVT, Of THE ,REPUBLIC OF' VIET NAM' S VIEWPOINTS THROUGH
LETTERS AND MEMORANDA. T PROPOSE TKFREFORE 'TO' SEND. TO YOU
A SPECIAL 'MTSSARY TO CONVEY TO YOU IN 'GREATER DETAIL THE ' VIEWS'
OF THE 11VERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC-- OF VTET,VAN :ON THE PEACE
"FTTLE ENT., IT IS MY EARNEST HOPE .,THAT YOW WOULD: GIVE A
FOVORAPLE~RESPONSE TOW THIS .PROPOSAL, _ IN '.VIEW OF ~ ITS VITAL IMPORTANCE :
TO 9E NEARO i,R HULL. THEREFORE, I' SHALL 'APPRECIATE IT GREATLY IF,
TO THAT EFFECT?' YOU WOULD ACCEPT AS ,MY SPECIAL'EMISSARY,, EITHER
FAREI" N MINISTER IRAN VAN LAM OR MY SPECIAL 'ASSISTANT FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS,. OR, NGUYEN PHU DUC, AT YOUR CONVENIENCE#
ADA THIF11 JOINS ME IN EXTENDING TO MRS. NIXON AND
YOU OUR WARMEST PERSONAL REGARDS AND OUR BEST WISHES FOR
COT I tt(,'T"D 1OOD HEALTH.
HT5 EXCELLENCY RICHARD M. NIXON
. PRESIDEK`T of.THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE WNTTE HOUSE, WASHINGTON D.C.
SI NCERELY,,
/5/ THIEU
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/03/03: LOC-HAK-490-9-20-6
__11 V