185. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1
Paris, November 3, 1968,
2000Z.
23331/Delto 924. From Harriman and Vance. Following is our comment on today’s meeting between Vance and Lau:2
- 1.
- As we see it, there are two practical alternatives:
- A.
- Go forward on November 6th as stated in the President’s October 31 statement, with the GVN free to attend if they want to come;
- B.
- Ask for a postponement of the November 6th date to a date certain and be prepared to go forward on that day whether or not the GVN is present. We note that it is not certain that the DRV will accept a proposal which does not include the GVN, although we believe they probably will.
- 2.
- The DRV made clear that it will continue to reject the proposal we made today, quoting back our own words that we wanted prompt and serious talks, and that they are ready to proceed on November 6th. They will add, as they did today, that they are prepared to discuss with us in informal bilateral meetings the necessary arrangements and procedures for the first meeting and reach agreement, subject to ratification by NLF and GVN. They said today that if we came to such agreement, the other parties could have no objection.
Harriman
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, HARVAN/DOUBLE PLUS, Vol. V. Secret; Flash; Nodis/HARVAN Double Plus. Received at 4:05 p.m. Repeated to Saigon.↩
- See Document 184.↩