Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917–1972, Volume VII, Public Diplomacy, 1964–1968

129. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Marks) to Secretary of State Rusk¹

Washington, February 2, 1967

SUBJECT

• Regaining Initiative on Tet Truce

I recommend that the U.S. attempt to regain the initiative on the Tet truce by announcing or arranging for the GVN to announce that the four day truce will be extended in 12 or 24 hour periods contingent upon DRV and VC continued observance of the truce conditions.²

These conditions would be: continued cessation of all military action, including terrorism; suspension of all infiltration and movement toward infiltration; and, suspension of all regrouping of forces.

This action should help us to take the psychological initiative on the Tet truce from the hands of the enemy. We could control the definition of violations (within reasonable limits) and also probably use this period to good advantage in assessing any alleged VC/DRV “signals.”

Leonard H. Marks³

1. Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1967–1967, Entry UD WW 108, Box 4, Government Agencies—State, Department of, 1967. Secret. Copies were sent to President Johnson (through Kintner), Rostow (with note), and McNamara. All ibid. Drafted by Marks. Written at the bottom of the memorandum in an unknown hand is a notation that reads “By hand 2/3.”
2. For additional information about the Tet truce extension, see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. V, Vietnam, 1967, Document 34.
3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.