CABLE TO HENRY KISSINGER FROM ALEXANDER HAIG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-503-2-13-6
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: May 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: May 26, 1970
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-503-2-13-6
T 0 P S E C R E T SENSITIVE 260500Z MAY 70 VIA CAS CHANNELS
FROM: GENERAL HAIL, SAIGON 655
TO: THE WHITE HOUSE, EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY MR. KISSINGER
ATTACHED IS A NEAR VERBATIM TEXT OF MY MEETING WITH LON
NOL. I AM FORWARDING IT BY THIS MEANS SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.
MORI/CDF per
C03322863
IN SUM THE EXPERIENCE CONFIRMED FOR ME THAT THE CAMBODIAN
GOVERNMENT OR AT LEAST ITS LEADERSHIP HAS BURNT ITS BRIDGES
COMPLETELY AND IS RESOLVED TO HOLD FIRM. HOWEVER IT IS EQUALLY
EVIDENT THAT LON NOL IS BADLY SHAKEN IF NOT DESPERATE AND THAT WE
MUST MOVE PROMPTLY WITH MORE CONCRETE MANIFESTATIONS OF U.S.
SUPPORT.
YOU WILL NOTE THAT MY EFFORTS WERE TO KEEP AN EMOTIONAL AND
NOT VERY REALISTIC LEADER THINKING ALONG PRACTICAL LINES. MY
DISCUSSIONS WITH MATAK BEING FORWARDED SEPARATELY CONVINCED ME
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THAT MATAK AND PERHAPS THE MILITARY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS IN
KF"EPING LON NOL'S THINKING ALONG REALISTIC AND PRACTICAL
SOLUTIONS. IF HE WERE TO CONTINUE TO EXPECT A MASSIVE INFUSION
OF U.S. ASSISTANCE, I AM CONVINCED THIS WOULD PROVE FATAL TO HIS
GOVERNMENT. OUR MOST URGENT TASK NOW IS TO GET THE CAMBODIANS
TO LAUNCH A REALISTIC ACTION PROGRAM WITH ESSENTIALLY SHORT
RANGE GOALS DESIGNED TO RETAIN THE SUPPORT OF THE CAMBODIAN
PEOPLE.
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS: BRIGADIER GENERAL HAIG
LON NOL, PRIME MINISTER OF CAMBODIA
DATE: MAY 23, 1970 -- 10:00 HOURS
PLACE: PHNOM PENH -- OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
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GENERAL HAIG: THE PRESIDENT HAS ASKED ME TO CONFER WITH YOU AND
TO EXPRESS HIS ADMIRATION FOR YOUR EFFORTS AGAINST OUR COMMON
ENEMY AND TO CONVEY TO YOU AND THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE HIS CONTINUING
SUPPORT FOR YOUR COURAGEOUS EFFORTS. HE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A
PERSONAL LETTER TO YOU CONCERNING MY MISSION. (LETTER OPENED AND
TRANSLATED.)
LON NOL: BEFORE STARTING, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE
AND THE GRATITUDE OF MY COUNTRY FOR THE ASSISTANCE THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN US. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT OUR COUNTRY IS
UNDER HEAVY ATTACK AND THAT THE SITUATION IS VERY COMPLICATED.
ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS, WE ARE
TRYING TO FORM A NETWORK OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE ENEMY.
GENERAL HAIG: FIRST, ,I WILL OUTLINE MY GOVERNMENT'S PLANS AS THEY
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PERTAIN TO OUR OPERATIONS IN THE VC SANCTUARIES. WE CONTEMPLATE
THAT ALL AMERICAN TROOPS WILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM YOUR TERRITORY
BY JUNE 3O.
LON NOL: ONE SMALL QUESTION. WILL THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE WITH-
GENERAL HAIG: ALL AMERICAN TROOPS WILL LEAVE BY JUNE 30. WE
VISUALIZE THAT THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR
GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS REQUIRED IN THE SANCTUARY
AREAS IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT THE ENEMY FROM RE-ESTABLISHING THESE
SANCTUARIES AND HOPEFULLY TO SERVE AS A DETERRENT TO THE ENEMY' S
EFFORTS TO UNDERTAKE MORE SEVERE ATTACKS AGAINST CAMBODIA ITSELF.
WE (WOULD HOPE THAT THE NATURE OF ARVN OPERATIONS WOULD NOT BE SO
EXTENSIVE AS TO SERVE AS A PRETEXT FOR MORE BLATANT ENEMY ACTIVITY
IN CAMBODIA.
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ANOTHER COROLLARY SOLLUTION WOULD BE TO HAVE YOU, THE
AMERICANS, TRAIN US. I MENTION THIS IN PARTICULAR IN THE NORTHEAST
WHERE WE COULD PERHAPS TRAIN AND FIGHT TOGETHER. HOWEVER, OUR
BIG PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT IS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO RECEIVE IN THE WAY OF ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR GOVERNMENT.
GENERAL CAO KY TALKED TO ME THE OTHER DAY AND IT WAS HIS
POSITION THAT THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ENTERED CAMBODIA BEFORE THE
AMERICANS SO THAT THE AMERICANS COULD FOLLOW AFTER AND GIVE US THE
MATERIAL WE NEED. BUT WE ARE IGNORANT AS TO WHAT WE WILL
RECEIVE AND WHEN. OPERATING IN THIS VACUUM MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR US AS TO ORGANIZE OURSELVES.
GENERAL HAIG: WE OF COURSE HAVE DONE MUCH UP TILL NOW AND PLAN
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TO DO MORE. THE PRESIDENT HAS DECIDED TO SEND A MILITARY EXPERT
WHO WILL OPERATE OUT OF OUR EMBASSY HERE IN PHNOM PENH. HE WILL
WORK WITH YOUR STAFF I N EVALUATING YOUR NEEDS AND WILL BE ABLE
TO EXPEDITE DELIVERIES, COUNSEL YOUR STAFF ON THE UTILIZATION
AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMS WHICH WE WILL PROVIDE. IT IS
IIAPORTANT THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THE EQUIPMENT WE WILL PROVIDE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE BASIC IN NATURE, INCLUDING RIFLES, AMMUNITION,
MACHINE GUNS, MORTARS, AND PERHAPS SOME ROCKETS. THESE ARE THE
KINDS OF EQUIPMENT WHICH WILL HAVE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SHORT
TERM IMPACT. AS YOU KNOW9 PRESIDENT NIXON HAS PROMISED THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE WILL NOT FURNISH ADVISORY PERSONNEL.
LON NOL: OUR ARMY HAS GROWN IMMENSELY RECENTLY. IT IS VERY YOUNG
AND WE ARE JUST NOW TRYING TO ORGANIZE IT INTO A VIABLE COMBAT
FORCE. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MOBILE BRIGADES WITH 9 BATTALIONS
IN EACH BRIGADE AND ABOUT 500 MEN IN EACH BATTALION, WITH A FEW
TANKS, A FEW HEAVY GUNS AND SOME AVIATION. '
UP TO NOW, WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING OUR OWN. TRUE, IN THE NORTH
TWE HAVE HAD SOME ROUGH EXPERIENCES BUT IN THE SOUTH THINGS ARE
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GOING WELL. I MUST, HOWEVER, HAVE SOME ARMS TO GIVE TO THE
STUDENTS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY.
GENERAL HAIG: CAN YOU GIVE ME YOUR APPRAISAL OF HOW THE
MILITARY SITUATION IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING.
LON NOL: FOR THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION, IN THE NORTHEAST BESIDE
RATTNA KILT WE HAVE.2-3,000 MEN WHO ARE HOLDING WELL. I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK YOUR FORCES TO JOIN THEM AND FIGHT SIDE BY SIDE WITH US.
WWTE WOULD PROFIT FROM YOUR AIR SUPPORT. THIS WOULD PROVIDE US WITH
A NETWORK THAT WOULD. FORM A BLOCK IN THIS AREA THAT WOULD BE
SURE TO HOLD. TO THE SOUTH, THERE IS A MOMENTARY HOLE IN OUR
DEFENSIVE NETWORK:IN THE TWO PROVINCES SOUTH OF RATTNAKILE.
WE WILL FILL THIS HOLE AS SOON AS WE CAN REGROUP OUR FORCES TO
SEND THEM BACK.
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GENERAL HAIG: WE WILL CONSIDER ON AN URGENT BASIS THE POSSIBILITY
OF PROVIDING US AIR SUPPORT IN YOUR NORTHEASTERN PROVINCES EAST OF
THE MEKONG TO HELP STABILIZE THE SITUATION THERE. BUT I MUST
BE PERFECTLY FRANK, IN ORDER NOT TO DO YOU ANY INJUSTICE
ESPECIALLY AS YOU PLAN YOUR IMMEDIATE DEFENSES. THE EFFECT OF
UNDELIVERED PROMISES BY ME COULD BE DISASTROUS TO YOUR PLANNING.
WE W,!ILL BE UNABLE TO EMPLOY AMERICAN TROOPS IN CAMBODIA AFTER
JUNE 30. PRESIDENT NIXON HAS MADE THIS COMMITMENT TO OUR PEOPLE.
WERE HE TO FAIL TO DELIVER ON THIS PROMISE, HE COULD JEOPARDIZE
OTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT MEASURES OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR STRUGGLE.
LON NOL: I UNDERSTAND YOUR PREDICAMENT, BUT WE, TOO, HAVE
IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS. GIVE US AIR SUPPORT IF YOU CAN. GIVE US
SOME AVIATION. I CITE THIS EXAMPLE. WE CAN SET UP A NETWORK
TO ASSIST IN THE LIAISON OF AIR STRIKES EAST OF THE RIVER BUT
THERE ARE NVA/VC ON THE OTHER SIDE, TOO, AND WE NEED THE MEANS
TO ATTACK THEM THERE'ALSO. MORE AVIATION OF OUR OWN WILL GIVE
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US GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO STRIKE AT SEVERAL PLACES,
GENERAL HAIG: I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH MY CURRENT
TENTATIVE APPRAISAL OF THE ENEMY'S CAPABILITIES. WE ARE DESTROY-
ING HIS LONG-ESTABLISHED BASES OF SUPPLY ALONG YOUR BORDER WITH
SOUTH VIET-NAM. IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE WE MUST PREVENT HIM FROM
RE-ESTABLISHING HIS LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. THE ENEMY HAS NOW BEEN
PRECIPITOUSLY PUSHED AWAY FROM HIS SUPPLIES AND MUST NOW ATTEMPT
TO SWIM ON THE SEA OF YOUR PEOPLE. HE WILL TRY TO CONVERT YOUR
PEOPLE AGAINST THESE EFFORTS. IF YOU SUCCEED, THE NVA/VC WILL
BECO14E INOPERATIVE FOR A LACK OF LOGISTICS AND HIS PRESSURE
AGAINST YOU WILL SUBSIDE AND HOPEFULLY THE LAND CAN BE RETAKEN.
LON NOL: I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH YOUR ANALYSIS. BUT IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT WE NOW EXPAND OUR PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRYSIDE. THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEAST, ARE
ASSESSING WHO IS THE STRONGEST. THEY ARE VACILLATING BETWEEN
OUR CAUSE AND THE VISIBLE STRENGTH OF THE VC. THE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT MUST BE ABLE TO EXERT ITS POWER IN SOME WAY. IN THE
NORTHEAST, YOUR AIR SUPPORT WOULD HELP GREATLY. IT WOULD SHOW
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THE PEOPLE THAT WE TOO HAVE STRENGTH. ON OUR
GENERAL HAIG: BEFORE I LEAVE PHNOM PENH, I WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN
WITH YOUR STAFF AND A MAP AND REVIEW THE LATEST TROOP DISPOSITIONS,
BOTH FRIENDLY AND ENEMY.
LON NOL: WE HAVE THAT FOR YOU. THERE ARE TWO PLACES WHERE OUR
TROOPS HAVE HELD. IN RATTANAKIRI IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE THE
SITUATION IS CRITICAL AND IN THE SOUTH. IN THE SOUTH OUR TROOPS
MUST CARRY THE WILL POWER OF THE NATION FOR THE PEOPLE.
I HAVE ASKED FOR LIGHT ARMS TOTALLING 50,000 WEAPONS. THE
MOBILE BRIGADES ARE BEING FORMED. SOME ARE IN TRAINING AROUND
PHNOM PENH BUT ARE WITHOUT ARMS. WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE
WANT BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. IN SOME CASES WE
HAVE BRIGADES WITH ONLY 3 BATTALIONS.
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OUR VN ALLIES OPERATE ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND THEY
WILL SOON BE LEAVING-. IT WILL NOT BE EFFICIENT NOR GOOD IF
WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR WELL ARMED UNITS WITH OUR POORLY
EQUIPPED ONES. FURTHERMORE, OUR HISTORY WITH THE VIETNAMESE
HAS BEEN VERY COMPETITIVE AND WE CANNOT LET THEIR UNITS DOMINATE
OURS EVEN BY COMPARISON.
UNTIL YESTERDAY, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE THE WILL TO FIGHT. OUR STUDENTS AND MEN WANT TO FIGHT
BUT WE LACK THE :WHEREWITHAL. WE ARE WILLING TO BUY THESE ARMS
IF WE HAVE TO. WHEN THE STUDENTS HAVE FINISHED THEIR TESTS, WE
WILL ASSEMBLE 14,OO0 OF THEM TO THE REAR TO FORM A DIVISION.
WHEN WE CAN CLEARLY SEE WHO WILL PROVIDE WHAT AID FOR US, THEN
WE WILL BUY WHAT ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT WE NEED. WE MUST EXERT OUR
SUPERIORITY OVER THE ENEMY. WE ARE DEFINITELY IN THIS ANTI-
COMMUNIST STRUGGLE AND IF WE MUST ENTER INTO YOUR BLOCK OF NATIONS,
WE WILL GLADLY DO SO.
GENERAL HAIG: FIRST, I HOPE TO OBTAIN FROM YOU TODAY A SUMMARY
OF THE COMMITMENTS MADE TO YOUR GOVERNMENT BY OTHER COUNTRIES,
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SECONDLY, AS I HAVE SAID, THE PRESIDENT INTENDS TO CONTINUE
WITH THE PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT THROUGH
THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE OR PERHAPS OTHERS. WE MUST NOT JEOPARDIZE
THESE CRITICAL STEPS BY IMPRACTICAL ONES WHICH CANNOT
BE HELPFUL IN THE SHORT TERM.
IN REGARD TO THE QUESTION OF JOINING OUR BLOCK OF NATIONS,.
AS YOU KNOW, IT I,$ THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO
RESTORE THE NEUTRALITY OF CAMBODIA, WHICH MAY PROVE TO BE A MYTH.
NEVERTHELESS, IT IS STILL IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT PROVIDE HANOI
WITH ADDITIONAL PRETEXTS AND JUSTIFICATION FOR CONTINUING THEIR
OFFENSIVE AGAINST YOUR COUNTRY. WE CONTINUE TO HOPE TO RE-
ESTABLISH STABILITY AND BE ABLE TO PREVENT FURTHER ESCALATION OR
PROLONGATION OF THE WAR. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT IT REMAINS,
AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL PARTIES
THAT CAMBODIA CONTINUE TO PROFESS ITS GOAL OF RE-ESTABLISHING
ITS NEUTRALITY. PERHAPS THIS WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE BUT WE
WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THIS QUESTION IN ABEYANCE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS
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THE ENEMY'S INTENTIONS ARE FURTHER CLARIFIED.
WE BELIEVE THAT HANOI THOUGHT IT COULD QUICKLY OVERTHROW
YOUR GOVERNMENT BY EXERTING PRESSURE ON THE CAPITAL THROUGH CUTTING
OFF THE LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ITS OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRY-
SIDE AND THEN TO RETURN SIHANOUK AND RE-ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT
SYMPATHETIC TO ITS OBJECTIVES. HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT THE ENEMY'S
MOST URGENT NEED IN CAMBODIA IS TO RE-ESTABLISH ITS LOGISTICAL
FRAMEWORK AND ITS LINES OF COMMUNICATION. THUS, TO THE DEGREE
YOUR PEOPLE CAN HOLD FIRM NOW, THEN THE MORE LIKELY A RETRENCH-
VENT IN THE LEVEL OF ENEMY PRESSURE WILL OCCUR AS HIS SUPPLIES
DWINDLE FURTHER. IF THIS OCCURS THEN YOUR CONTINUED CLAIM TO
NEUTRALITY MAY PROVE TO BE THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS COURSE.
LON NOL: THAT'S A GOOD POINT WITH WHICH I AGREE. TO ANSWER
YOUR FIRST QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE PROMISES OF ASSISTANCE, W
HAVE NOTHING CONCRETE YET.
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IN GENERAL, HOWEVER, ALL THE COUNTRIES SAY THAT THEY HAVE
NOTHING THAT THEY CAN GIVE US. WE NEED HELP AND HELP NOW.
GENERAL HAIG : THAT CLARIFYS THE SITUATION FOR ME. I NOW KNOW
THE PROPORTIONS OF YOUR PROBLEM. PERMIT ME TO REITERATE WHAT
KINDS OF IMMEDIATE STEPS WE ARE PREPARED TO UNDERTAKE. I WOULD
ALSO AGAIN UNDERLINE WHAT WE WILL BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST
IN THIS PHASE. FIRST, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO FURNISH SMALL ARMS
THROUGH THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE AND AS OUR FORCES THIN OUT IN VIET-
NAM WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL QUANTITIES OF INDIVIDUAL
ARMS AND EQUIPMENT. SECONDLY, WE WILL ENCOURAGE THE SOUTH
VIETNAMESE TO MAKE SHALLOW PENETRATIONS ALONG THE BORDER AFTER
JUNE SO TO PREVENT THE ENEMY FROM RE-ESTABLISHING HIS LOGISTICAL
BASES THERE AND TO DETER FURTHER ATTACKS ON YOUR COUNTRY. THIRD,
WE WILL CONSIDER PROVIDING IMMEDIATE AIR SUPPORT IN THE NORTHERN
PROVINCES EAST fly` THE MKONG.
LON NOL: THANK YOU. REMEMBER TWO THINGS. FIRST, IF WE ARE NOT
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MADE STRONGER, THE INTRUSIONS OF THE WELL ARMED SOUTH VIETNAMESE
TROOPS WILL BE AN AFFRONT TO MY PEOPLE WHICH CAN BE EXPLOITED BY
THE ENEMY. THIS IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM THAT WE CAMBODIANS HAVE.
WE CANNOT LET THE VIETNAMESE EXHIBIT THEIR SUPERIORITY OVER US.
NOW THAT THE VC HAS LOST THEIR BASES, THEY WILL PROBABLY TRY TO
GIVE ARMS TO THE POPULACE SEIZING ANY PRETEXT TO SPREAD DIS-
CONTENT AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT OF SIHANOUK.
THE PRESS WILL PROBABLY FURTHER INFLAME THIS SITUATION. I HAVE
ALWAYS SAID HOWEVER THAT THERE ARE VERY VERY FEW CAMBODIAN
COMMUNISTS AND THE KHMER ROUGE MOVEMENT IS VERY VERY SMALL. THE
VC/NVA RECEIVE THEIR SUPPORT PRIMARILY FROM THE VIETNAMESE SEGMENT
OF OUR POPULATION. WE MUST NOW IMPOSE OUR WILL ON THE PEOPLE AND
OUR MORALE WILL BE GREATLY LOWERED IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE THE
WHEREWITHAL TO DO THIS.
TO ASSURE THE VICTORY, WE MUST:
1. CONSOLIDATE THE NORTHEAST AND NORTHWEST,
2. CONSOLIDATE THE SOUTH.
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3. RECEIVE FROM YOU URGENTLY 509000 LIGHT ARMS.
4. BUILD OUR MOBILE BRIGADES, AND,
5. OBTAIN SOME ADDITIONAL AVIATION.
THE POPULATION WILL NOT GIVE FOOD TO THE VC UNLESS WE LOSE
FACE. IT IS A QUESTION OF MAINTAINING FACE AND RE-ESTABLISHING OUR
PRESENCE IN THE PROVINCES. ANOTHER AREA WHERE YOU CAN HELP US
IS ALONG THE 'MEKONG BY PROVIDING SOME MARINES TO KEEP THE RIVER
OPEN. THIS IS AN ALL IMPORTANT ECONOMIC AND COMMUNICATION LINK.
GENERAL HAIG: YES THAT IS IMPORTANT AND I BELIEVE THE SOUTH
VIETNAMESE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
LON NOL: LET ME GIVE YOU THE CHARACTER OF THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND
HERE. HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, AS CHIEF OF STATE I AM WELL OBEYED.
HOWEVER THERE IS. MUCH CONFUSION. I SUPPOSE THAT THIS IS CAUSED
BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT DOMINATED THE MILITARY SITUATION.
ADDED TO THIS IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MET A VERY SOLID, BATTLE-
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HARDENED VIETNAMESE ARMY. SO, OUR SITUATION IS NOT LIKE BEFORE.
I CAN NOT SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS. WE WAIT FOR
HELP AND WE WAIT, BUT WE CAN'T WAIT TOO LONG.
GENERAL HAIG: I WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE ONE POINT YOU HAVE
RAISED MORE CLOSELY. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE RECOGNIZE
THE PROBLEM POSED BY CAMBODIA'S TRADITIONAL DISTRUST OF THE
VIETNAMESE. I SPOKE TO GENERAL ABRAMS ON WEDNESDAY ABOUT THIS.
THROUGH OUR ADVISORS WE HAVE MONITORED VERY CLOSELY THE SOUTH
VIETNAMESE ARMY'S PERFORMANCE IN CAMBODIA. GENERAL ABRAMS
REPORTED THAT THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ARMY IS PERFORMING MAGNIFICENTLY
AND THERE WAS LITTLE IF ANY ABUSE OF THE CAMBODIAN POPULATION.
I THEREFORE SUSPECT THAT THE VC/NVA ARE SPREADING THESE STORIES
OF ATROCITIES. THESE MUST BE REFUTED. ON MY RETURN TO SAIGON,
I WILL TALK TO PRESIDENT THIEU AND ASK HIM TO BE SURE THAT
PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY HIS SPOKESMAN AS WELL AS THE ARVN'S FUTURE
PERFORMANCE DO NOT ADD TO THESE LONG STANDING TENSIONS.
LON NOL: GENERAL KY HAS ALREADY MADE SUCH A DECLARATION. HE
TOOK THE BULL BY THE HORNS RIGHT AFTER SVAY RIENG WAS RETAKEN. WE
HAVE ESTABLISHED LIAISON WITH SOUTH VIET-NAM AND WE ARE DOING OUR
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BEST TO FIND THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. IT'S AGREED THAT THE
SITUATION IS A LITTLE OVER-HEATED ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS JUST AN
ACCESSORY PROBLEM, HOWEVER, AND ALL CAN BE SMOOTHED OVER. WHAT IS
IMPORTANT IN THESE TIMES IS TO SORT THE ESSENTIAL FROM THE
ACCESSORY PROBLEMS. THE ESSENTIAL FACT IS THAT WE NOW HAVE WEAK
TROOPS FACING A STRONG, EXPERIENCED VC/NVA ARMY. THE PEOPLE ARE
BEHIND ME BUT I MUST DO SOMETHING IN THIS "ESSENTIAL" AREA. I
MUST FORM AN EFFECTIVE NETWORK OF RESISTANCE. IF I DO NOT, I WILL
LOSE ALL THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. CAMBODIANS ARE REASONALBE.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE OUR DIFFICULTIES.
I HOPE THAT YOU ARE READY TO AID US. WE FEEL THE GROUND TREMBLING
UNDER US. I HAVE JUST SPOKEN TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND TOLD
THEM THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO WIN OUR LIBERTY. WE MUST
BE PREPARED FOR SACRIFICES.
HOWEVER THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T .WAIT TOO LONG. THE GROUND ON
WHICH WE STAND IS NOT FIRM. WE STAND READY TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO
SAVE OUR COUNTRY.
GENERAL HAIG: I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EVALUATION OF
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THE SITUATION AND AM SURE THAT THE RESULTS OF OUR MEETING TODAY WILL
BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO PRESIDENT NIXON. AS I STATED EARLIER,
HE HAS ASKED ME TO CONVEY TO YOU HIS FRIENDSHIP AND TO REITERATE
HIS SUPPORT. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT WE WILL DO. I
UNDERSTAND YOUR OUTLOOK AND I ACCEPT IT. OUR PROBLEM IS TO OVER-
COME THEM. I DO NOT WANT TO PROMISE YOU WHAT WE CAN NOT DELIVER,
THAT WOULD BE SHORTSIGHTED. I WILL DISCUSS YOUR PROBLEMS WITH THE
PRESIDENT AND WE WILL STUDY THEM WITH THE UTMOST URGENCY.
PRESIDENT NIXON HOWEVER ALSO HAS MANY PROBLEMS OF HIS OWN AND
HE DOES NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE OUR FUTURE FREEDOM OF ACTION BY
MAKING ILLCONCEIVED MOVES AT THIS TIME. HE REALIZES THAT PATIENCE,
SACRIFICE AND COURAGE ARE NECESSARY TO DO THE JOB AND THAT
BASICALLY CAMBODIANS MUST SAVE CAMBODIA.
THE ENEMY CAN REPEAT CAN BE BEATEN. WE HAVE ALREADY PROVEN
THEY ARE NOT INVINCIBLE. THE ARMY OF SOUTH VIET-NAM IS STANDING
UP WELL AGAINST THEM AS YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE SOUTH. CAMBODIANS
CAN AS W4ELL. OUR HEARTS AND OUR SYMPATHIES ARE WITH YOU AND WE
WILL DO ALL WE CAN. (AT THIS POINT GENERAL LON NOL BROKE DOWN
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AND SOBBED. HE THEN GOT UP AND WENT TO THE OTHER END OF THE ROOM
UNTIL HE REGAINED HIS COMPOSURE.)
LON NOL: HELP US TO BUY THE MILITARY HARDWARE WE MUST HAVE. AND
PLEASE CONVEY TO PRESIDENT NIXON OUR WARMEST REGARDS AND HEART-
FELT THANKS FOR HIS KIND EFFORTS ON OUR BEHALF.
LON NOL THEN GAVE GENERAL HAIG HIS GOVERNMENTS WRITTEN PLAN
FOR REBUILDING ITS ARMED FORCES.
THE MEETING TERMINATED AT 12:15 P.M.
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