68. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Korea1
810. 1. Addressees should convey to host governments, with timing and levels at your discretion, assurance that Honolulu conference will not be aimed at any significant changes in the conduct of the war, much less at any discussions in depth of the negotiating situation. Primary purpose is, as President has stated,2 to give him opportunity to meet with GVN leaders and to go over with them major non-military programs including particularly such key elements as rural construction program, economic difficulties and inflation, and possibility of additional effort concerned with education, health, and agriculture. Latter elements account for presence of Secretaries Freeman and Gardner and former is expected to proceed to Saigon with agricultural delegation after meeting.
2. President is of course also taking advantage of Westmorelandʼs concurrent visit in order to discuss with him the military outlook and to get a general reading on necessary force increases during the year. However, no decisions are expected in this area,3 and we will continue to stay in close touch with addressee governments as our views and plans mature. Military matters may also arise with GVN, but we do not expect discussion on this subject to receive nearly as much emphasis as the crucial non-military programs.
3. In conveying above, you should make clear that we remain well aware of major interest of addressee governments, as suppliers of military forces, both in respect to strategic decisions and major issues in conduct of negotiations. As addressees know, bombing suspension ended with no significant change in outlook, and we do not at present have any reason to believe that UN initiative will produce anything immediate. We shall continue to stay in close touch.
3. Bangkok may use above in its discretion.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted and approved by William Bundy. Also sent to Canberra and Wellington and repeated to Bangkok and to CINCPAC for U. Alexis Johnson.↩
- The President announced at his news conference on February 4 that he planned to attend the Honolulu Conference, flying to Hawaii on February 5 and returning to Washington on February 8. He stated that the conference would consider both “nonmilitary and military matters,” with “a good deal on the pacification matters, particularly on agriculture.” (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966, Book I, pp. 144–146 and 148)↩
- Regarding the military discussions at Honolulu, see Document 70 and footnote 2 thereto.↩