-.

‘STE t’ A1fl3AF

7’ r4,r75fl OCT 72
FM AL HAIR
TO HENRY A YISSI!4?ER
TOP SECPET/SENSITIVE
EXCL’!SIVELY EYES ONLY
HUG TO 01?
E HAVE J’ST COMPLETED 3 HOUR,, 5 MIPJ’!TE SESSION WITH
PRESIDENT TX!!’! AMD HIS NATIONft SEC"°ITY COUNCIL, INCLPDING
VICE PRESIDENT HI?OP’C, PRIME MINISTER y4flM FOREIGN MINISTER
LAM, FOREIGN POLICY AS?ISTANT DUO, AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT
NRA. IT WAS VERY.APPARENT TO BITM’CER AND MYSELF AS WE.
APPPOCHED THE PALACE THAT A MAJOR CONFPONTATION .‘4AS IN THE
OFFING. TRAFFIC HAD APPARENTLY BEEN STOPPED FO SO’E TIME AND
S ‘JE EP’TFRED THE PALACE THE ‘AS CLEAR EVIDEMCE OF AM AT
OSPHP!" OF CRISIS. WHEN BI’!’!E° AND Ib’ERE CALLED TO THE
P°EcIDE"T’ OFFICE, "E VEP! IMSTEAD USHEPED STPPIGHT TO THE
flNVFMCE P00" "HERE THE MtTIOMAL SEC’!RITY .CO"P!CIL WAS IN
?"AITI Till!;’ P!TDODuCED THE MEETING P! VIETNAMESE WITH
"W’. Sfl"nIt. AT A CHALV. BOAPO 0w’, SERVING ftS TPAtSL8TOR.
THIE;’ !T’TED THAT HE "ISHETI TO ‘!AYE PPESETTftTIOM TO ME
MV bMReS!ADOR B"eEP ‘4HICHWOPLD COVER FOUR ITEMS: 1 THE
VM !!NDZPSTANDING OF THE NORTH VIETNeMEcE SEPTEMBER 06 PRO
POSAL. ‘ THE t’VN ASSESSMENT OF THIS °°OPOSAL. 3 THE
T"fl ".5. COUNTER PROPOSCLS MJ THEIR VAPTANTS. 4 THE t’J9
ASSESSMENTS OF THESE PROPOSALS.
IT ‘MS EVIflENT FROM THE OUTSET THAT ‘E "EPE REIM CON-
FROrTFD RY SOLID, "NIFIW fliP’ OPPOSITION TO P.S. CO!’NTE
POOPOSALS. HO!"EVER, DURING THE PERIOD THAT FOLLO"ED IT
END PAGE ONE

/1
 * a

TOP X"ET/fl5’tifITTVE
EXCL?’SIVELY EYES ONLY.

t.TA!EVIDEMT THAT THEP’ EfL 1A"9!’P VA5 Cm’PLETFLY FOC"S?!t

O! TV’! COMPOSITION OF THE CP’P PD THE FftCT THAT THE T’NTTFI
STTES "OVED I" THE A! OF THEP’ ;flPcTTflfl TO PTIc’tkTc
ITS COIPOSITION AT THE !!PTEM3V? 15 Pt!S SE?SIO". ALL OF
THIS iWCPME VERY CLEAQ rtS MHt ‘1!T T4PO"r!4 I D!TflLED EXPL0P’TTO?4
or THE OPPANIZATIONM: APPP’!PEME’!T’ VI"U7!T !‘!DFP THE "O"TM
VI!TP’’ESE AN! THE ".9. CO’fl’!TEP PPO’3r!..r. ThE MAIN CP"X CF
THTE!!’S ArG’J!EMTS *,‘EDF THAT ‘IIILF T!r! rofrp,E:rrsT OF MATIOML.
cO’!COPD ".5. - CNR F!UWTtO’EC ON T’ pT’!CIPLE OF ?tPMIMITY,
IT ‘‘tS "!VEPTHELESS FOUNDED O’ t! *flITQftPY TH°IZE Pft°TY
ITEpIOM "HICH IN NO !AY CONVOP’W TO TWE EXISTINt? POLITICL
REALITIES IN SOUTH VIETNATM.
PRESIDENT THIE" POINTED OUT THAT UUfl!R THIS CONCEPT P
5TALMATE WOULD RESULT AND CULTINATE IN HIS REMOVAL AND IN
THE !tTI!ATE COLLAPSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH VIETNAM
BECAUSE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, HE AND THE 31/N !4UST RECO!’!!
THE OBSTACLE TO THE REALIZATION ON THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT
HAD BEEN AGREED TO. THIEU ALSO COMPLAINED THAT DESPITE YOUR
*SSURPNCES TO HIM DURING YOUR VISIT IN AUGUST THAT YOU WOULD
ASV NO MORE CONCESSIONS, YOU PROCEEDED TO GO BEYOND THESE
oflHRANCES. THEY WERE APPARENTLY UPSET AT THE REJECTION OF
THEIR .6 AUGUST MEMORANDUM, 8UT EVEN MORE DISTURBED BY OUR
!‘NILATERtL ACTION ON SEPTrflEP 15. THIEP STATED THAT THE
NSTITt’ENT ASSEMBLY AMOUNTED TO THE IMPOSITION OF A NEW
FORM OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM FOR VIETNAM.
END PACE TWO.

I
 S a

TOP SFCPET/SFNSITIVE
FXCL"STUELY EYE!f OKtY
FINALLY, HE COMPLAINED !3ITTVDLY T}&T P"fl’ITE YO!.’R ts’v’
ANCES ‘*‘ITH PESPECT TO THE SECP’!rY r r’c ‘ ‘r TAL!t, THE
NOPTH VIETNAMESE HAD P1’T31..IrLY flcJ!AL’.! T’’ ¶?.%flfl rHPPACTEP
OF THE GOVERNMENT t’t’nr PISCI!f4iT3". TllT!T! CO"7LAIM!D THAT THE
FPE!L!CH At" THE P’OPT VI!TMAI.IESF aflV rOL’.."?I" TO PPESS’PE THE
!MIT’!n CTPTFF TO ACCWPT Tl*’ TW’F "T 1ff HIfl4-
LIGHTED rPECIFICPLLY THE EFEPV’CF. n’ flfl’F’:fli?’C PRESS CO’
REPCS TO THE FACT THAT THE U.S. 1fl JfM! q.’WW rA LOrPF
DIE’CPSSI9’ PRINCIPLES T1;’T TM! fli.7’!tY’ CW I"CIPLES,
PDDIP’c’ TW’T THERE AP! THPEE IP’T’’?’ C9IIt? 7" !O"TH V!ET-
Nfl THAT MUST 13! ACCOMMODATED.

TH!fl’ "65 JOIP’Efl BY EACH Pj:Vt’fl 07 TM" "T!O"ftL S!c!’°ITY

cOVTMCIL "HO ATTACYE! EVERY Mmtr’r 0" T’ ‘0"T51 uffT!%’AM!RE
P°OPOSAL o t’.S. CO!9!TER P°OPOr’L. POt’cF, TM! OST SEPt01’!
OPPOSITION INVOLVED THE TRIPAiTT? r:!A°ArT’! OZ’ TM’! COMPIITTET!.
I nAInsTAvI!¼Lv COPVEPED !erM it1fl EVF!V ArPECT OF ¶4’? P’tTIOMAL’!
ME DWC"SSEO IN WASHIP’CTON M..’D NYAnLY LFFT THE FIRM INDICATION
THAT P FUNDAMENTAL REPPRAISftL VO"L’ P’S’tT FPOM SAIGON’S FAIL
IRE NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE US "Ifl A SP!CIFIfl CO’!P’TER PROPOSAL
RUT ALSO IN EFFECT TO REFUSE IC !‘Ifl! CTVFt’ PS SPECIFIC COMMENT!
ON THE REMAINING 10 POINTS. I EMPHASIZED TH4TPR!SIDENT NIXON
WOULD VIEW THIS AS A NATTEP OF THE UTMOST GRAVITY ‘HICH QOULD
NOT RUT JEOPAPDIZE THE "HOLE CHARACTER OF OUR FUTURE PEL4TION
SHIPS. AFTER A LENGTHLY CO!!"TEP-ATTAC’c BY ME, THE SESSION RECAME
HIQ’HLY CHA°GFD AND EMOTIONAL. tTH THIE’! IN flAPS THPOUI3H MPCH
OF ITS DURATIONM I USED JUST ABOUT EVERY A!UNET CONCEIVABLE
END PACE THREE

TOP SECDET/SEMSITIVE -

EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY 77."’

.:
A’
 ‘
a S

*.
* **

*:* :lirc

TOP Ecr!T/!r"cITIvF
EXL"!IVFLY EYES ONLY -4-
P’ f! V7VO’T TO ‘OV’! T’IPE’" Mfl !rr IN TM’? "I"L
A’IAJ vcq’?.’fpqTrT! cT"Tfl TIIT :1? r’u’ fl AS n" .:IpE"’T
or ro"t vIETMA p*! pct"p!rcv n’: *rC’F’I’C’ !‘.!‘. PUOPOSALS
‘l-!"rU "O’tfl O’tY "E’"L.T’ fl’ Tiy rcI.j.c’r! 07 ‘ttr rOuEPKt"E!.!T
"P’ CW’TPI’3t’TE TO TT!E PELjZTtO1 OF IJ"X’S r3j’trTIvES.
IP THE "AMIWfl MOMTS OF ‘t’O!T 4 FO!" HO’TQ SESSION, I
AS’EI THIEf! 1Hfl PRECISELY HE "A"T1D ‘E TO TELL PPESIDENT
"!XO’. THIE!J STATED HE HAD PE’’ED A Mr..fOapDu WHICH HE
ThEt’ HA"OED NE A!" ADDED ThAT HE ¶t’O!jLl BE YVITItIG A PEP
SO’"L LETTER TO PPESIDT!UT ?HXON "ITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
COPY OF MENORAt’Dt’M SENT B? SAPATE NF.SSoCE * HE COMCLUOEO
DY RFCIP’C EMOTIONALLY TU4T P’FSIflCNT NIXON POT RE I!IFLUENCZO
IN "t MAY BY PPESIDE4T T:*:IIc!"S F"fl!flE, ‘3!!T r?ATHER flY CON-
SIDEP!ITIONS WHICH ‘:‘OITLD ESUL.T H’ TM’? FUTURE OF OVER 17
"ILIIO" SOUTH VIETNAMESE R"tPL’r’. 1’ SAID HE "AS PREPARED TO
FACE THE MORST, RUT THAT ! COULD OT CO’fl’RO!ISZ THE INTEI’EvrtS
OF HIS PEOPLE.
*I "M’T!DYOP TO HAVE TujS INITII. EPOPT VHICH ONLY ARTIPLLY
cO’PrS "HT ‘ntS ft PQOLC"r’, uic’n.v CHMWFD A"! MC:T F1OMIF1C!Wt*
WETI"c. I PFCOP’TE TFhI T:’I PE’O"T "ILL PEflILT IM ?°E6T
DI?,%’PflThTM!PT T’’P’?. 71:r AT HAN! I!’ TO rCfl’FTDEP MOcT
CP"’1.1..Y ‘‘HFPE ‘l’ !"fl rrct" r’’::. flO!"TFri Y, ‘‘E fl’! procrn
"IL"T’"A1.LY ‘.‘TTM 1!IT"?P Tfl’ r’fllTh’T!?P PPñflflrAI
‘S" ftP’! I
9FLI. THE ,!,!STIFrr’7IO" I? C
"‘j’ ‘‘ Mfl T.’flP I’f TO DO
HO’i’T!"T THE O"Tro’:’! O!’ "1’!! ‘rTTr "PT E "‘art Cn??F"LLY
CO’T!’RED. I’! "Y T "TIL 0" CP!’Lfl "FLi. ‘?I"t’ PRO"T

WOf ‘P

I
 *1

TOP
FXCL:?JkELY v’vg" tfl’LY -5-
THE rfll.I.APr!! OF TUTE"’ ‘fl’flr’"’E’fl’. I flI’’ "OT A’lTJCIPATE
Ti!" pr:r’;r:w OF f’ltWIrtm! r’n":ftTFfl fl;",’P T117 "O’ITHS 01?
AMP rFF’TF:’tF". 0:1!? 4’TIO O’ 15 flPTZ"E fiPPFARS
TO ‘p r’ rnr"n 1’ rØI p Apc? p! rn;’rin:’ç’! .‘‘IC4 PPVIJ’!tITEP
eM fl.A1’IOTfL!t ANA1.YXf flf" TH rm!"r:" rOPOFALF I CAPPI!fl
"It’! "F. THEF IS "0 P0!"3T THAT ‘F ,yFT NO" FIOrT fl’?CI’E
flU" TO r°OCFED PT TI!’! "EXT PPPI! rESSlO’ AN? 9O!E ACCO°!DI!’GLY
TO PrAn,y,!ST PPO’tDTLY 09 OV’!PpL.L TLTtf"HTPfl t’ITH T’!IE1’.
"E "rT "Ct’! PECTSIV’?I.V, TO WITH!?" t’Ii!CCgv. s1’r?OT FPO" ‘it"
0" TO PE’31’ILD !1"FACH 140111 T’c’O!’flH 0" s%r’rfonc IN PARIS ANI? A
fl’PFr!’FMT CO""P’IC"T!O O’ TM7 "n’!YPrNT TO T"Ifl’. AT THIr
POI"T I TENT TO F"UOR TUE L"TTP CCrr’?’. rI’Au.y, I "O’LD
C"!’TIOt! YO" THAT TM? flIM "Fi0"’!" c"T fFPAPftT!LY DOES POT
I" AM" "AY C4"T"R’! THE P’?’7 T11°"ST OF T9T!"S e,PQ?"ENTS. THE !‘V40
It OFFENSIVE f.N LACED "ITH FH’C’F L’’?Nt. THIEPS APGITh!E1tTTS
‘.rpr ESPECTF1’Ij’Y AN’ LPPCE tfl fEUDED OF POLEMIC. HE IS
"‘!5’fION3LY FPIG!!TEEO AND APP 1?FIV! A3OUT
"I"T LIES AHEAD. .

"RON PEPEADI?P THE AflOVf’, I "ISH TO EM!flMSIZE THAT WHAT

THIT!’ IS PECOM?AENIM YOU PCI TN VjpD ‘!FXT FE’ION IS TO
APHCCW. TO THE PU"! PROPOSAl. Ot’TLI’?1 I !HZIR MEMOPAMOUM OF
!"T’!"P!q13. THIFI! INSIrTS THI! r’FTE’? TM’! RPESIDE"TIPL
FI4ECTTO’! THE COVFP’"Et 131! rn"porvn OF TH ‘JAIOUS POLITICAL
FACTIONS IN PROPORTION TO TH!’ P0PPL? "/OTE THEY RECEIVE AT
THAT tVCTIOtI. THIEU C}tAACTFI7FD THIS AS AN ELECTED
L1bLJTION POvPN"ENT. F,;!THc’n:POnF, T p"!T YOU TO BE R!"ARE
ThAT tT THE O"TSET OF THE "E?Ttt!, I "ITHDPE" ALL THOSE:
OF THE cONSTIT?I??yT 1!.? LTERMATIV! ‘.‘HICH
P"1 "fl T!LP’CTIOT’ OF Tt’t T’r"’:Tfl"T TH’ CON°TITI"?"T
rij

A’r"t" ?. ‘"‘II F TI1TI." f’>’r:."cln:n T’!I’ CIIPMflW CO’PLFTfl ‘F,

IT "A’E 1.ITTLE DIFF"RFNCE I>’ T*. COiT!XT OF ‘‘HAT IS AN
INTt1’’Ir!’.1T J’OrITION C" T1f7 C"!’ * I PLrO "ATC THE CAF
OPtI. rr f:!’PCOMsJTT!F FT7:!fl T ‘Pu" TO HAV? 37 "H!CH I
tfl7"pjfl 1"ST RErOPI! THE ‘.tF’?TJr.

.1’Is ‘!P.’ AP°ItJAL TI’!! AT sk:flflt,jC C:’ S:33 P’! LOCAL

TI!t 0’! 4 OCTC’U!7.

! *‘

‘ 1