53. Notes of Telephone Conversation Between the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Read) and Chester Cooper of the National Security Council Staff1
Undated, 11:50
a.m.
Chet Cooper called to double talk following message:
The UK and Cooper think that Kosygin may have indicated “a bite.” He indicated to Wilson in talks this afternoon (London time) considerable interest in our Phase A-Phase B proposal and committed himself to send it in cable form to Hanoi with his endorsement. Kosygin is leaving London at 10:30 p.m. London time tonight and wants an agreed text ASAP.
Suggested text (which will be flashed to us) consists of five short lettered paragraphs.2
- a.
- The US will stop the bombing as soon as it has been assured that infiltration by the North will stop and this assurance can be given privately.
- b.
- Within a few days to be agreed upon by the parties, the US will stop augmenting its forces in the South and North Viet Nam will stop infiltration.
- c.
- What the US does will of course be immediately apparent but no public rationale will be stated at the time.
- d.
- What North Viet Nam does will be more difficult to observe but the US will not demand a public statement that they have taken the required action.
- e.
- These assurances can be given and exchanged by the USG and the DRV directly or through the Soviets and/or British.
Ben
Read
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Sunflower & Sunflower Plus. Top Secret; Sunflower Plus. The document is undated but references in the text confirm the date as February 10. Cooper was in London; Read was in Washington.↩
- A Flash telegram, telegram 6456 from London, February 10, 1900Z, contained these five elements slightly rephrased. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/SUNFLOWER)↩