REPORT FROM A CONTACT OF GENERAL WALTERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-291-5-15-7
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 5, 2010
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: August 8, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY
INFORMATION August 8, 1970
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/05: LOC-HAK-291-5-15-7
MEMORANDUM
PRESIDENT HAS SEER
ON-FILE NSC
RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
SUBJECT: Report from a Contact of General Walters
FROM: Henry A. Kissinger
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
We have received another report from General Walters' French contact
in Paris, which makes some interesting points.
Situation in North Vietnam
--The -economic situation in North Vietnam is very serious.
Letters arriving in France ask for many goods which, in contrast to
the past, are now openly received in the DRV. Many peasants are hiding
rice.
--Family life is disturbed and.the Cambodian operation has brought
mourning to 10, 000 families. Some families have three sons under
arms, starting at age 14. Parents never hear from soldiers fighting
in the south. No soldiers return on leave.
--Catholics are more active, saying the Rosary together and putting
religious images in place. When the Archbishop of Hanoi decided to
organize a Congress, the Government opposed it but had to relent when
100, 000 signatures were collected in 20 days.
--The weight of the war has fallen on North Vietnam since the
Khmer Rouge and Pathet Lao are militarily worthless. The overriding
feeling is one of loss of military and political initiative. Despite all
DRV sacrifices, peace can only come from outside, with even the
Chinese using "our struggle" as'bargaining material in the case of a
Sino-American thaw.
--Xuan Thuy will be returning to Paris but there is less certainty
about Le Duc Tho. Thuy has moved up in the hierarchy.
SECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/05: LOC-HAK-291-5-15-7
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Factions in Hanoi Leadershi
In addition to these points, Walters' friend made confusing remarks
about the existence of two camps with allegedly different attitudes
toward Peking, as follows;
- The U. S. move in Cambodia has created a drastic change
in the situation. As a result of this, one of two groups in North Vietnam
is full of anger, humiliation, and distrust that the Vietnam*** have
again become the "toys" of the Chinese. The Chinese are giving front-
page play to such monarchical personalities as Sihanouk and paying
less attention to such old Communists as Pham Van Dong. At the
Canton meeting, China resumed the role of the coordinating power for
Indochina. There is also resentment of the irony that North Vietsum,
a socialist nation. is forced to support two Princes (Sihanouk and
Souphan ouvong). The North Vietnamese have no confidence in Sihanouk.
--The second group is aggressively anti-Chinese. Le Duan and
several others -- such as Giap and Dong -., are in this group. But the
Soviets are far away and the Chinese are very close. They al? control
the supply lines, especially since the closing of the Cambodian ports.
Ls Duan's manifesto earlier this year was worked up in conjunction
with Kremlin experts. The Soviets had told him to bring his party
back to strict orthodoxy, to decelerate the war, and to move toward
negotiations to achieve an honorable peace.
--Le Van's manifesto was opposed by pro-Chinese elements of
the Lao Deng in April, and he subsequently decided on a purge of the
party. But it is not certain he can do it. because of the Chinese.
--The Chinese will not treat North Vietnam as Moscow treated
the Czechs, but they will act like Asiatics through subversion, assassi-
nation, and promotion of young lurks trained in Poking. They are already
working an the Mentagnards.
-_ The North Vietnamese Communists, "pathetically" *ttacked
to the Soviets, will not be able to escape from the heavy Chinese hand.
Comment
Much of this sounds plausible. particularly the discussion of internal
North Vietnamese problems, although we have no proof of it. I can
SECRET SENSITIVE EYES ONLY
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 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/05: LOC-HAK-291-5-15-7
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well imagine also that good Communist cadre find it hard to fight for
princes whom they must consider anachronisms. I have difficulty
with the reasoning about the two camps in Hanoi, since the report
actually seems to speak of three. One, whose members are not
defined, resents the way Peking has taken over the war and is using
Hanoi. Another, including Le Duan, Giap and Fong, is sympathetic
to Moscow and would like to move toward negotiations but is stymied
by the Chinese. A third is pro-Chinese and wields ultimate control
because China is close and indispensable.
As usual, I think these divisions are somewhat overdrawn though I
cannot disprove them. I think if an important faction in Hanoi wanted
to negotiate with Soviet support they would find ways of making this
known. I also still have my doubts that Hanoi is so much in Peking's
pocket that the Chinese can overrule three of the most powerful men in
the politburo and impose their own policy while making North Vietnam,
pay the price in lives and ideological compromises.
I still believe that the main fact we need to boar in mind regarding the
Hanoi politburo is that after Ho's death the party has no man strong w
enough to tarn the party around from war to any questionable compro-
mise. But they also lack a man strong enough to make the population
continue forever to make the sacrifices required for victory. They
still see no way out of their dilemma except to keep slogging at any
level they can, hoping that we will be compelled to accept their terms
by collapse of U. S. will or of South Vietnamese resistance. It is
not a cheery prospect for them.
SECRET/SENSITIVE EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/05: LOC-HAK-291-5-15-7
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/05: LOC-HAK-291-5-15-7
INFORMATION
SECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM: Henry A. Kis$aig r
SUBJECT; Report from a Contact of General Walters
We have received another report from General Walterd French contact
in Paris, which makes some interesting points.
Siiuatiun in North Vietnam
--The economic situation in North Vietnam is very serious.
Letters arriving in France ask for many goods which, in contrast to
the past. are now openly received in the DRV. Many peasants are hiding
rice.
--Family life is disturbed and the Cambodian operation has brought
mourning to 10,000 families. Some families have three sons under
arms, starting at age 14. Parents never hear from soldiers fighting
in the south. No soldiers return on leave.
--Catholics are more active, saying the Rosary together and putting
religious images in place. When the Archbishop of Hanoi decided to
organize a Congress, the Government opposed it but had to relent when
100, 000 signatures were collected in 20 days.
- -The weight of the war has fallen on North Vietnam since the
Khmer Rouge and Pathet Lao are militarily worthless. The overriding
feeling is one of loss of military and political initiative. Despite all
DRY sacrifices, peace can only come from outside, with even the
Chinese using "our struggle as bargaining material in the case of a
Sino?Amsrlcan thaw.
--Xus Thuy will be returning to Paris but there is less certainty
about Le Duc Tho. Thuy has moved up in the hierarchy.
SECRET SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY
HAK:WL:rns:8/1/7"
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/04/05 : LOC-HAK-291-5-15-7