CABLE TO ELLSWORTH BUNKER FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-2-49-2
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 49
• Publication Date: July 3, 1970
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/17: LOC-HAK-490-2-49-2
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ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
." INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
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T' O P S E C R E T 031002Z JUL 70 SENSITIVE EYES ONLY VIA CAS CHANNELS
THE PRESIDENT HAS AGAIN MENTIONED HIS CONCERN THAT THE
RECENT FL-URRY 'OF PRESS SPECULATION ON 'NEW POLITICAL INITIATIVES
WILL GENERATE MISTRUST AND SUSPICION ON THE PART OF PRESIDENT
THIEU AND THE GVN.; FOR THIS REASON, HE HAS ASKED ME TO
REQUEST THAT YOU BRING TO PRESIDENT THIEU'S ATTENTION THE
$ 'STATEMENT CONCERNING COALITION GOVERNMENT AND
PREaIDENT.'
THERE IS ONLY ONE MATTER THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATIONS,_
AND THAT IS THE RIGHT OF,THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE TO DETERMINE
,
NEGOTIATEDSETTLEMENT MADE DURING LAST NIGHT'S NATIONWIDE T?:
INTERVIEW. AT THE OUTSET. OF.TH'IS PROGRAM, THE PRESIDENT
MADE. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS: -~.
THEIR OWN FUTURE. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS, FOR EXAMPLE,
THAT THE SPECULATION WITH REGARD TO OUR HAVING CHANGED OUR
POSITION AND.AGREEING POSSIBLY TO NOW OFFER A COALITION
GOVERNMENT, A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT, IMPOSING A COALITION
GOVERNMENT, THAT SPECULATION IS NOT CORRECT. IT IS NOT
CORRECT BECAUSE, IF WE WERE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE NORTH-
VIETNAMESE AND DECIDE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A COALITION GOVERNMENT
AND IMPOSE IT ON THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE, THA- IS A GOVERNMENT
WITHOUT THEIR CHOICE.
"IF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IN THE FREE
POLITICAL PROCESS, SHOULD CHOOSE COMMUNIST AS WELL AS
NON-COMMUNIST, AND OUT OF THAT SHOULD COME A GOVERNMENT'
THAT IS MIXED, THAT IS UP TO THEM. BUT, WE WILL NOT IMPOSE
A COALITION GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE WILL. AND WITHOUT THE
CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH VIETNAM."
THE PRESIDENT HOPES THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BRING THIS TO
PRESIDENT THIEU'S PERSONAL ATTENTION-AS REAFFIRMATION OF
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/17: LOC-HAK-490-2-49-2
U.S.. POLICY ON THIS ISSUE.
BEST REGARDS*
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