Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume IX, Vietnam, October 1972–January 1973

192. Message From the Chief of the U.S. Delegation to the Paris Peace Talks (Porter) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Paris, December 18, 1972, 1200Z.

1. Appreciate clear instructions contained WHP 263.²

2. At this moment we are waiting to see what effect your press conference and bombing-mining will have on North Vietnamese here, and particularly on their willingness to hold meetings on expert level and/or those of Kleber type. I believe they are meeting to discuss their tactics with regard to experts meeting scheduled for today and additional possible public manifestations here of their displeasure.

3. As you know, Negroponte has been called back, Sullivan is leaving today, and Aldrich and Engel will depart on Thursday. We will then be relying on my team only to carry on both experts and Kleber meetings. We shall have to proceed cautiously until my group has thorough understanding of basic agreement, nine versions of protocols, and the understandings. Most of this material was quite unknown to us prior to last week, and it is intricate and voluminous. This situation requires that I remain here over the holidays instead of coming home as planned.

4. I do not yet know how often Xuan Thuy will be willing to hold experts meetings, but I doubt that it will be on daily basis. I hope to induce him to meet as frequently as possible, and if I succeed, I will have Isham attend Kleber meetings on 21st. Meeting between Christmas and New Year is usually cancelled.

5. I have not changed my opinion that Kleber meetings have been useless to us for long time and have merely provided others with forum they find very useful. They are worse than useless now, they are harmful, because they cause us to sit, unable to support our ally’s views, while making ourselves targets of NVN/VC allegations. We have been over this subject before, and I have conformed to your opinion that Kleber meetings are necessary.

6. Warm regards.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 859, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXIII. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via Guay and Haig.
2. Document 186.