CABLE TO THE WHITE HOUSE FROM ELLSWORTH BUNKER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-492-10-3-1
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: April 2, 1970
• Content Type: CABLE

c-S-Hk-r~?q ,o :
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-492-10-3-1
April 2, 1970
FROM: Ambassador Bunker, Saigon 831
TO: The White House, exclusively eyes only, Dr. Kissing
1. I have re-read your WHS-0010 reporting on your March 16 meeting..
with Michael, Yul, and Nestor and the memorandum of conversation which
came by courier. I believe that there has been some progress, but I
agree with your statement that their basic purpose is not yet clear, and
may only begin to.emerge over the next few meetings. It seems to me
they are still in a probing posture and as you mention have kept open
all options of seeking settlement or only reconnoitering our position.
2. On our side you have spoken candidly on the military aspect of a
settlement, made an explicit proposal for withdrawal of all US and allied
forces and made clear to them while there may be a different legal basis
their forces must also be withdrawn. You have also stated our position
that a solution must reflect the balance of political forces.
3. On their side, they have essentially dropped the 10 points by
condensing them into two main issues as "military problems" and
"political problems"; have moved away from their hackneyed formula
of "withdrawal of US forces" and "formation of a coalition government".
In this connection, they seem to have muted their demand for a change in
the GVN. They seem.to be more flexible than they have been in the past
and obviously want to keep the channel open. I think this became clear when
you went back at them pretty hard toward the conclusion of your last
meeting.
4. 1 have a feeling that what they are most anxious to do now is to
get some feeling of our views for a political settlement. We are in a
somewhat delicate position here since we have always said that the GVN
must participate in negotiations affecting the internal problems of South
Vietnam. On the other hand, we told the other side that we are ready to
discuss anything with them and, of course, we would have to keep Thieu
informed of our discussion of political matters with Michael, Yul, and
Nestor. With this caveat, I see no reason why we should not discuss matters.
relating to a political settlement.
5. For example, following up your statement that a solution must
reflect the balance of political forces, you might develop this further with
ideas of how such a balance might be achieved through the establishment
MORI text of
C03322042
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-492-10-3-1
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-492-10-3-1
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of a mixed electoral commission with adequate powers and with international
supervision of elections. They have spoken of coalition government with
three elements and the problem is to find some middle ground. Although
they have not said so, it seems to me implicit in their approach and their
reactions to what you have said that they also realize this is necessary.
It will be interesting to see what they might have in mind in this connection.
I do not believe we have gotten to the point yet, but I have always felt that
if and when we can get the two Vietnamese sides talking together there is a
strong likelihood that they will come up with a typically Vietnamese
settlement which includes some kind of accommodation not now clear
to us. But I think we are still too early in the exploratory stage to put
this forward now.
6. Finally, it -will be interesting to see what effect the developments
in Cambodia which have taken place since your last meeting may have on the
other side's attitude. It seems to me that with a prospect of a three front
war on their hands, their position might become somewhat more flexible.
7. I realize these observations are not especially helpful. I think
there is need to get them to be more explicit on their position. You have
been explicit on the military problem. I note that Michael's last statement
was "we will speak on our position" presumably at the next meeting.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/08/11 : LOC-HAK-492-10-3-1