63. Circular Message From the United States Information Agency to all Principal USIS Posts and the Embassy in the Soviet Union1
Circular Infoguide No. 69-22. Subject: The Path to Peace
1. The path to peace in Viet-Nam has been charted in a series of recent statements by President Nixon. In discussions and output, USIA should reflect realistically the progress achieved toward peace, and confidence in the course that has been chosen. Our tone should be one of cautious optimism.
2. The President, in concert with the Republic of Viet-Nam, has outlined alternate plans to achieve a just peace: through a negotiated settlement if possible, or through continued Vietnamization if necessary. He ruled out a precipitate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Viet-Nam.2
[Page 136]3. Even though debate over the best means to achieve peace will continue, as is inherent in a democratic society, the unity of the nation and its leaders in their desire to end the conflict is not open to question.
4. To promote a better understanding abroad of the key issues of peace and war in Viet-Nam, Agency media should give increased attention to these major points:
a. The Republic of Viet-Nam is continuing to show substantial progress in its economic, social and political development. These accomplishments—in addition to growing South Vietnamese military strength—enhance South Viet-Nam’s status as a sovereign, independent and viable state.
b. Hanoi has miscalculated the desire of the South Vietnamese people for self-determination. Evidence of that desire is readily apparent in the persistence of South Viet-Nam’s nation-building efforts while engaged in a stubborn defense of its freedom.
c. Hanoi and its supporters have misread minority agitation in the U.S. They appear to think that a vocal minority can bypass the processes of American democracy, including an open society’s primary means of political expression—the ballot box. The strength of our society is built on freedom of expression. This means that any American has the right to express, without fear, opinions that differ from those held by others, including his elected leaders. President Nixon sympathizes with the idealism of critics at home and fully shares their desire for peace. Under his oath of office the President must act in accordance with his best judgment of the interest of the nation as a whole. He cannot permit a vocal segment of the population to sway this judgment, particularly when it has been endorsed as sound by a majority of the people.
d. While Communist prisoners of war have access to the resources of the Red Cross and other rights to which they are entitled, American POWs held in North Viet-Nam are denied the humane treatment required by international conventions to which Hanoi has subscribed.
e. For years Hanoi has followed a deliberate policy of using assassination and other forms of terrorism against civilians in its attempt to deprive the South Vietnamese people of their independence. This policy is abhorrent to the United States. Accusations of isolated instances of atrocities by Americans have created grave concern in our nation, beginning at the highest levels, and the individuals involved are brought to trial. Americans withhold judgment of the accused, however, until a verdict is returned indicating guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This is in accord with the Code of Military Justice and the U.S. legal system, under which the individual is presumed innocent until found guilty.
f. The United States stands for freedom of choice for the people of South Viet-Nam. In most parts of the nation—in those not controlled [Page 137] by the National Liberation Front—local government officials have been elected to office in free elections. National leaders, including the President, Vice President and members of both houses of the National Assembly, were chosen by the people. The NLF, on the other hand, has never put its claim of legitimacy to the test of the ballot box.
g. The path to peace is a two-way street. The President has set forth the record of U.S. good faith in the quest for a negotiated settlement. Hanoi has offered nothing in return. Despite the discouraging lack of progress in efforts to negotiate, the U.S. will continue to do everything possible and consider any proposal that might advance this means of bringing the conflict to an end.
h. In continuing the reduction of our troop commitment (by 115,000 this year) the President has clearly shown the U.S. determination to end the conflict and to take risks for peace.
5. Agency media will continue to give a balanced presentation of support for U.S. policy and of dissent in United States, as well as divergent viewpoints and interpretations.
6. In sum, the United States will continue along complementary tracks of its clearly-defined path, rejecting a precipitate, immediate withdrawal from Viet-Nam. The U.S. Government has made clear its confidence that these tracks—negotiation preferably, Vietnamization as necessary—will lead to a peace that will preserve the fundamental right of the people of South Viet-Nam to determine their own future.
- Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Policy and Plans, 1963–1969, General Subject Files, 1949–1970, Entry UD–264, Box 313, Master Copies 1969. Confidential. Drafted by Britton on December 30; cleared in draft by Loomis, Perry Peterson, Cohen, Arnold, Weathersby, Hamilton, Congleton, Norman Scott, Izenberg, and Tobey; approved by White. Scott initialed for all clearing officials except for Arnold and indicated that the officials cleared in draft. Sent for information to CINCPAC for McGowan and Okinawa for 7th Psyop Group. Sent via telegraph.↩
- Reference is to the President’s November 3 address; see footnote 2, Document 45. The President addressed the nation on December 15 regarding progress on Vietnamization and the troop withdrawal program; for the text, see Public Papers: Nixon, 1969, pp. 1025–1028.↩