267. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State1
1066. For the President and Secretary from Harriman. We lunched with Rapacki and same group of his associates. After some informal discussion on changes in Soviet leadership and Sino-Soviet dispute, Rapacki focused discussion on what he might transmit to Hanoi. He asked for explanations of several matters particularly President’s statement on NLF representation at conference. As he tried to read into it acceptance on our part of NLF as full members conference I firmly stated our position that only governments could be members but Front could be fully heard. Argument over this lasted some time, but Rapacki finally accepted fact that we were only dealing at the moment with the possibility of a favorable reaction by Hanoi to the President’s pause in bombing. Question of how further talks could take place was left open, necessarily through Geneva type conference.
Rapacki was eventually satisfied on the points he had raised and said he would try to transmit US position faithfully to Hanoi for its consideration which might take some time. The Ambassador and I underlined pressures on the President which required a prompt reaction from Hanoi. We emphasized not only military considerations but early date of decision on State of Union message and budget. Discussion ended on most cordial note. Rapacki stated simply and with dignity that he would do what he could and pointed out how important ending of Vietnam war was to world stability.
We agreed to give press brief statement that I had come to Warsaw to talk with Polish Government about Vietnam in its capacity as member ICC and had discussion with Rapacki, etc. Statement is now being drafted. Detailed memcons follow.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Pinta. The source text does not indicate a time of transmission; the telegram was received at 12:26 p.m. and passed to the White House.↩
- The memorandum of this conversation was transmitted in telegram 1069 from Warsaw, December 30. (Ibid.)↩