THANK YOU FOR LAST NIGHT'S MESSAGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-8-19-9
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 19
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/16: LOC-HAK-490-8-19-9
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TOP SEES. NI V E . .
FM GE14ER AL H
TO R.T. KENNEDY, THE WHITE HOUSE
PLEASE SEND' THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE VIA BUNKER CHANNEL IMMEDIATELY
TO AM 13ASSADOR BUNKER, SAIGON
ER
FM HENRY A. KISSING
TOP SECRET NSITIVE EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
BT
THANK YOU FOR LAST NIGHTS MESSAGE
AS REPORTED IN NY PREVIOUS MESSAGE, THE FOUR DAYS OF MEETINGS WITH
THE GTHEc SIDE WERE BALANCED BETWEET POLITICAL AND MILITARY
DISCUSSIONS. WHILE IN THE EARLIER MEETINGS THEY PUT EXTRAORDINARY
EMPHASIS ON POLITICAL ISSUES, AT THE. LAST MEETING THEY DISPLAYED A FAR
GREATER WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS IMILITARY MATTERS IN SCME DETAIL.
SEVERAL OF OUR MEETINGS WERE LENGTHY AND TIME -CONSUMING
DUE TO THEIR PLODDING AND DETAILED PRESENTATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN
THE POLITICAL AREA. ON THE MILITARY SIDE THEY WERE INSISTENT AND UN
YIELDING IN THEIR DEMANDS THAT THE U.S. END ALL SUPPLIES OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE.
O-f BALANCE, FROM THE FIRST DAY THROUGH THE FOURTH, THERE WAS
DECIDED MOVEMENT IN THEIR POSITION FRO~I MAJOR EMPHASIS ON SATISFYING
POLITICAL DEMANDS TO GREATER AND GREATER EMPHASIS ON PURELY MILITARY
' COND IT I ONS. .
M Y JUDGEMENT AT THIS JUNCTURE WOULD BE THAT TH-Y APPEAR READY
TO ACCEPT A CEASEFIRE IN PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
TOP SECRET SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES- ONLY
-2 -
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/16: LOC-HAK-490-8-19-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/16: LOC-HAK-490-8-19-9
w
TOP SECRET SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
CANNOT ADOPT THE FRAME OF WIND THAT HE HAS FACED US DOWN AND THAT
HE CAN AFFORD T O FEND OFH SUCCESSFULLY WHATEVER SOLUTIONS MAY
FJYERGE FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OTHER SIDE. I RECOGNIZE THIS IS
A DIFFICULT TASK BUT SUSPECT THAT AT THIS JUNCTURE THIEU MAY THINK
THAT HE .ALONE CAN SET, THE TERMS FOR A FINAL SETTLEMENT..
1) THE NEED TO REGAIN AS :SUCH TERRITORY AS POSSIBLEAND
2) THE NEED FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY ON THE POLITICAL SIDE
INTEND TO HOLD FIRM IN THE POLITICAL AREA
OF COURSE
EWE
,
,
BUT FOR TACTICAL,,REASONS WE C4AY HAVE TO DISCUS SORE OBLIGATIONS IN THIS
AREA.
I AR SENDING YOU ATTACHED TO THIS MESSAGE A POLITICAL PLAN
TABLED BY THE OTHER SIDE DURING THE MEETINGS. YOU CAN SHOW THIS TO
THIEU AS CONFIRMATION OF HANOI'S CURRENT THINKING ON THE POLITICAL
ISSUE.
F. Y. I., : IN POSTURING HIM FOR MY VISIT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN
STRIKE A BALANCE WHICH ON ONE' HAND REASSURES HIM THAT WE ARE NOT
ABOUT TO ACCEPT ANY POLITICAL DEMANDS WHICH WOULD RESULT IN HIS OVER
THROW AND ON THE OTHER HAND KEEP SUFFICIENT HEAT ON HIM SO THAT HE
I LOOK FORWARD-TO SEEING YOU NEXT.WEEK..
WARM REGARDS.
TOP-SECRET SENSIGRVE
'EXCLUSIVELY EYES- ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/16: LOC-HAK-490-8-19-9