269. Message From the United States to the
Democratic Republic of Vietnam1
Washington, October 11, 1971.
General Walters should hand over
the draft statement of principles to the North Vietnamese.
He should then read the following oral message:
“At the September 13 meeting Minister Xuan Thuy stated that the U.S. side should
review the various suggestions made by the North
Vietnamese.2 The North
Vietnamese side has also said that it would be forthcoming if a
generous proposal is made by the U.S. side. The U.S. believes
that this new proposal goes to the limits of possible generosity
and fully takes into account the North Vietnamese propositions.
The U.S. hopes that the North Vietnamese response will reflect
the same attitude.
“Dr. Kissinger is prepared
to meet on November 1, 1971 with Mr. Le Duc Tho, or some other appropriate official
from Hanoi, together with Minister Xuan Thuy. He will be prepared at that meeting
also to take account of other points that have been discussed in
previous meetings in this channel.
“In the interim it is expected that both sides will refrain from
bringing pressures through public statements which can only
serve to complicate the situation.
“The U.S. side is putting forward these new proposals as one last
attempt to negotiate a just settlement before the end of
1971.”
[Page 980]
Attachment—Draft Statement of Principles3
- 1.
- The United States agrees to the total withdrawal from South
Vietnam of all U.S. forces and other foreign forces allied with
the government of South Vietnam. This withdrawal will be carried
out in the following manner:
- —All American and allied forces, except for a small
number of personnel needed for technical advice,
logistics, and observance of the ceasefire mentioned in
point 6, will be withdrawn by July 1, 1972, provided
that this statement of principles is signed by December
1, 1971. The terminal date for these withdrawals will in
no event be later than seven months after this statement
of principles is signed.
- —The remaining personnel, in turn, will be
progressively withdrawn beginning one month before the
Presidential election mentioned in point 3 and
simultaneously with the resignations of the incumbent
President and Vice President of South Vietnam also
provided for in point 3. These withdrawals will be
completed by the date of the Presidential
election.
- 2.
- The release of all military men and innocent civilians
captured throughout Indochina will be carried out in parallel
with the troop withdrawals mentioned in point 1. Both sides will
present a complete list of military men and innocent civilians
held throughout Indochina on the day this statement of
principles is signed. The release will begin on the same day as
the troop withdrawals and will be completed by July 1, 1972,
provided this statement is signed by December 1, 1971. The
completion of this release will in no event be later than seven
months after this statement is signed.
- 3.
-
The following principles will govern the political future of
South Vietnam:
The political future of South Vietnam will be left for the
South Vietnamese people to decide for themselves, free from
outside interference.
There will be a free and democratic Presidential election in
South Vietnam within six months of the signature of the
final agreement based on the principles in this statement.
This election will be organized and run by an independent
body representing all political forces in South Vietnam
which will assume its responsibilities on the date of the
final agreement. This body will, among other
responsibilities, determine the qualification of candidates.
All political forces in South Vietnam can participate in the
election and present candidates. There will be international
supervision of this election.
[Page 981]
One month before the Presidential election takes place, the
incumbent President and Vice President of South Vietnam will
resign. A caretaker Administration, headed by the Chairman
of the Senate, will assume administrative responsibilities
except for those pertaining to the election, which will
remain with the independent election body.
The United States, for its part, declares that it:
- —will support no candidate and will remain
completely neutral in the election.
- —will abide by the outcome of this election and
any other political processes shaped by the South
Vietnamese people themselves.
- —is prepared to define its military and economic
assistance relationship with any government that
exists in South Vietnam.
Both sides agree that:
- —South Vietnam, together with the other countries
of Indochina, should adopt a foreign policy of
neutrality.
- —Reunification of Vietnam should be decided on the
basis of discussions and agreements between North
and South Vietnam without constraint and annexation
from either party, and without foreign
interference.
- 4.
- Both sides will respect the 1954 Geneva Agreements on
Indochina and those of 1962 on Laos. There will be no foreign
intervention in the Indochinese countries and the Indochinese
peoples will be left to settle by themselves their own
affairs.
- 5.
- The problems existing among the Indochinese countries will be
settled by the Indochinese parties on the basis of mutual
respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and
non-interference in each other’s affairs. Among the problems
that will be settled is the implementation of the principle that
all armed forces of the countries of Indochina must remain
within their national frontiers.
- 6.
- There will be a general ceasefire throughout Indochina, to
begin when the final agreement is signed. As part of the
ceasefire, there will be no further infiltration of outside
forces into any of the countries of Indochina.
- 7.
- There will be international supervision of the military
aspects of this agreement including the ceasefire and its
provisions, the release of prisoners of war and innocent
civilians, and the withdrawal of outside forces from
Indochina.
- 8.
- There will be an international guarantee for the fundamental
national rights of the Indochinese peoples, the neutrality of
all the countries in Indochina, and lasting peace in this
region.
Both sides express their willingness to participate in an
international conference for this and other appropriate
purposes.
