115. Editorial Note

On August 9, 1965, McGeorge Bundy sent a memorandum to President Johnson outlining strategy for Gullion’s (X) next meeting in Paris with Mai Van Bo (R), which was scheduled for August 15. The memorandum, which has not been located in the holdings of the Johnson Library, is summarized in United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945-1967:

“Talking points for next X meeting with R:

  • “1. Let R do the talking this time and see if there is any give in his position.
  • “2. Make clear U.S. interest in ‘unconditional Geneva Conference.’
  • “3. Instructions:
    • “a. Purpose—set stage for formal negotiations if possible.
    • “b. Seek a no preconditions Geneva Conference and timing thereof.
    • “c. On NLF—Throw ball in R’s court. What would he suggest, recognizing the U.S. view on negotiations between governments?
    • “d. Stress that the sole reason for the U.S. presence in SVN is North Vietnamese infiltration of men and supplies. If infiltration stops, the U.S. will go home. This is a matter for Hanoi and no one else. Withdrawal of all forces must be the product of negotiations, not the preliminary.
    • “e. If R brings up bombing, say that U.S. must view ‘suspension or cessation in the context of adequate reciprocal actions.’
    • “f. Would R want conference on Vietnam alone, or Vietnam plus Laos and Cambodia? How would he want the conference convened—by invitation from the co-chairmen, privately, publicly, or by direct US-Vietnamese means?
    • “g. U.S. envisages no NLF role as a right in SVN. Is this really a precondition of the DRV?
    • “h. Pick up R’s suggestion about greater contacts between the zones.” (Herring, Secret Diplomacy of the Vietnam War, page 98)