Office of the Historian

237. Message From Richard T. Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the Air Attaché at the Embassy in France (Guay)1

Washington, December 29, 1972, 1517Z.

WHP 271. You should call your North Vietnamese contact on Friday evening, December 29, 1972, and ask for a meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 30. In your meeting you should convey the following oral message:

Quote: The U.S. side intends to make an announcement today concerning the resumption of the meetings between the North Vietnamese and U.S. sides. The announcement will state that “Negotiations between Dr. Kissinger and Special Adviser Le Duc Tho and Minister Xuan Thuy will be resumed on January 8. Technical talks between experts of the two sides will be resumed on January 2.” Unquote.

Also on Saturday morning, December 30, you should inform Ambassador Porter about the resumption of meetings. He can then begin making arrangements for the technical meeting on January 2. This is for his information only until public announcement is made.

Warm regards.

  1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 43, Geopolitical File, Vietnam, Bombing, 1972–73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.↩