113. Summary of Conclusions of a Washington Special Actions Group Meeting1
Washington, May 2, 1972, 10:04–10:49 a.m.
SUBJECT
- Vietnam
PARTICIPATION
- Chairman
- Major Gen. Alexander M. Haig
- State
- U. Alexis Johnson
- William Sullivan
- DOD
- Kenneth Rush
- G. Warren Nutter
- Rear Adm. William Flanagan
- JCS
- Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
- CIA
- Richard Helms
- George Carver
- William Newton (stayed only for Helms’ briefing)
- NSC Staff
- Richard T. Kennedy
- John H. Holdridge
- Mark Wandler
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
It was agreed that:
- —Defense will continue to stay abreast of the ARVN tank situation.
- —CIA will check out the intercept revealing that 22,000 NVA wounded are returning to North Vietnam via the Laos infiltration system.
- —The State Department should follow the White House lead in commenting on Marvin Kalb’s story about Mr. Kissinger and Mr. Livingston.
- —All concerned agencies should instruct their personnel not to make statements about Vietnam which will get us into traps later on. The Departments should make sure all personnel in Vietnam know what the decision-making system is for pulling out advisers.
- —We will make a decision next week on whether or not to go ahead with the leaflet campaign over North Vietnam.
- —Ambassador Porter’s instructions for this week’s meeting in Paris should go out today.
- —The cease-fire paper, which should be closely held, will be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting.
[Omitted here are the minutes of the meeting.]
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–116, Washington Special Actions Group, WSAG Minutes (Originals) 1–3–72 to 7–24–72. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.↩