281. Situation Report by the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Read)1
Ambassador Vance called on the Secure Phone at 10:00 a.m.
- 1.
- Oberemko came in this afternoon to see Harriman and Vance.2
- 2.
- Oberemko saw the DRV delegation last night after he saw
Vance and he reported
that he had “good reason to believe” that the following proposal
would be acceptable to the DRV
and the NLF:
- (a)
- Seating—A circular unmarked table with two rectangular tables at opposite points of the circle 45 centimeters from it (the same proposal he made yesterday to Vance except for specification of the distance of the two smaller tables).3
- (b)
- No flags or name plates.
- (c)
- Order of Speaking—France would draw lots to determine which side spoke first. They would inform the side that had the winning lot and that side would speak first with two speeches permitted. The order of speaking would then alternate—other side, our side, etc.
- 3.
- Oberemko indicated that he was pressing hard to have agreement reached on these procedural matters tomorrow, and he indicated that time is of the essence.
Comment:
Harriman and Vance, based on past experience, think Oberemko’s report can be taken as accurate. They recommend that we authorize Bunker to mention this new proposal to the GVN and get its concurrence (a) to accept the Oberemko proposal, and (b) to authorize the fall back to an unmarked circular table in case Oberemko is unable to deliver the other side on his proposal. The Paris delegation believes the GVN will readily accept this new proposal and they would like to be able to inform Oberemko of this fact tomorrow morning (Paris time).
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, HARVAN-Double Plus, Chronological Papers and other Misc. Material. Secret; Nodis/HARVAN Plus.↩
- The delegation transmitted an account of this meeting in telegram 521/Delto 1150 from Paris, January 14. (Ibid.)↩
- See Document 280.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩