April 1–May 3: Discussions on the Site for Talks
200. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. Secret; Flash; Exdis; Crocodile; Nodis. Drafted by Read, cleared by Harriman, and approved by Rusk.
201. Memorandum From William J. Jorden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow)
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. Secret. In telegram 151356 to Bangkok, Canberra, Manila, Saigon, Seoul, and Wellington, April 23, the Department noted: “We are suggesting to Hanoi that they consider an appropriate and suitable capital, not yet proposed by either party, where our representatives could have a private discussion limited solely to the question of selection of a site for contact.” The Ambassadors at these posts were directed to “emphasize that subject matter for discussion in this private contact would be limited to site selection. By this means we seek to end debate over mutually agreeable site.” (Ibid.)
202. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler) to Secretary of Defense Clifford
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Subject Files, Job 80–R01580R, 284—Order of Battle. Top Secret. In the attached covering note to Helms, April 22, Wheeler wrote: “Dear Dick: Attached is my memorandum to Clark outlining Westy’s views on the current Order of Battle strength problem. I share Westy’s concern in this matter. I cannot help but feel that airing these greatly increased strength figures at this time would be detrimental to our effort in the long run. Sincerely, Bus.” The CIA’s differences with MACV over Order of Battle estimates had grown since the previous fall. The issue is outlined in a paper Enthoven submitted to Clifford on June 28 entitled “Uncertainties About VC/NVA Force Levels.” (Johnson Library, Alain Enthoven Papers, Statistics on the War) The CINCPAC/MACV dissent to the CIA’s analysis is in a joint MACV/PACOM memorandum to Helms, April 19. (Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Subject Files, Job 80–R01580R, 284—Order of Battle)
203. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. Secret; Nodis; Crocodile.
204. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Johnson Library, Meeting Notes Files. Secret. The President had returned from visiting the LBJ Ranch in Texas earlier that day aboard Air Force One. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary)
205. Notes of Meeting
Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the White House. Those attending were the President, Rusk, Clifford, Wheeler, Helms, Rostow, Christian, and Tom Johnson. Wheeler and Helms left the meeting at 2:35 p.m. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary)
206. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Special Files, Public Service, Kennedy-Johnson, General, April 1968. Secret; Nodis. The meeting was held at Harriman’s home in Georgetown.
207. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Received at 5:43 a.m. This telegram is printed in full in Pike, ed., The Bunker Papers, Vol. 2, pp. 419–425.
208. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. Secret; Flash; Nodis; Crocodile. Received at 6:56 a.m.
209. Notes of Meeting
Source: Johnson Library, Transcripts of Meetings in the Cabinet Room. No classification marking. These notes are a summary of the transcript of the meeting’s recording. Those attending the off-the-record session were the President and Tom Johnson and a group of editors and reporters from the Washington Star that included Newbold Noyes, Crosby Noyes, A. William Hill, Charles Seib, John Cline, Burton Hoffman, John Cassady, Paul Hope, Mary McGrory, Tommy Noyes, Jack Horner, and Bernard Gwertzman. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary)
210. Letter From the Ambassador at Large (Harriman) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Special Files, Public Service, Kennedy-Johnson, Vietnam, General, April–Dec. 1968. Top Secret; Nodis; Personal. In a telephone conversation 2 days later, the President and Wheeler discussed the impact of the bombing halt on the military situation in Vietnam. (Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Wheeler, April 28, 1968, 11:10 a.m., Tape F6804.03, PNO 3)
211. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files, 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. Secret; Flash; Nodis; Crocodile. Received at 8:02 a.m.
212. Memorandum of Telephone Conversations Between Secretary of Defense Clifford and Secretary of State Rusk
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. No classification marking.
213. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Crocodile. Drafted and approved by Bundy, and cleared by Rusk, Clifford, Rostow, and Robert Houdek of S/S-S.
214. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–14 VIET/CROCODILE. Secret; Nodis; Crocodile.
215. Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Rusk, April 30, 1968, 10:50 a.m., Tape F6804.03, PNO 5. No classification marking. This transcript was prepared specifically for this volume in the Office of the Historian.
216. Notes of Meeting
Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings. No classification marking. The meeting was held in the White House. (Ibid., President’s Daily Diary)
217. Information Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Crocodile Paris to be filed. Confidential. The notation “ps” on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it.
218. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. The telegram is printed in full in Pike, ed., The Bunker Papers, Vol. 2, pp. 426–432.
219. Letter From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler) to the Ambassador at Large (Harriman)
Source: Department of Defense, Official Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 911/305 (26 April 68), IR 3867. Top Secret; Sensitive.
220. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Subject Files, Job 80–R01580R, 284—Order of Battle. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; CIA Internal Use Only.
221. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, Walt Rostow, Vol. 74. Secret; Sensitive; Crocodile.