154. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- Viet-Nam
PARTICIPANTS
- Ambassador Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, USSR
- Llewellyn E. Thompson, Ambassador-at-Large, Department of State
Dobrynin asked if we had really made clear to the North Viet-Namese what our position was for a settlement. I said that we had been in touch with the North Viet-Namese through various channels but so far had found no disposition on their part to have any serious discussion. He urged that we make clear to them our exact position on their four points. I said I thought we had done this in our many public statements as well as some indirect private ones.
Upon being pressed by him, I said the one point that gave us the most trouble was that concerning the role of the National Liberation Front. Dobrynin said that including dependents, about eight hundred thousand people supported the Viet Cong and our position left them no way out. I disagreed with this and said that if peace were established, they could participate in elections and obtain representation. I said that in dealing with this matter, however, we had to take account of the attitude and position of the South Viet-Namese Government. I said it seemed clear that the Chinese Communists were pressing Hanoi not to negotiate. Dobrynin asked if I did not think there was some difference in the positions of Peking and Hanoi. I said I was not an expert in this field but it seemed to me that there was always a slight difference in the public statements of Peking and Hanoi and that Hanoi always seemed to want to keep the door open just a bit, whereas Peking’s position was absolutely rigid.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret. Drafted by Thompson and approved in S/AL on September 27.↩