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

275. Message From the Ambassador to Vietnam (Bunker) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) in Paris¹

Saigon, January 13, 1973, 1220Z.

Tohak 130/324. Refs A) WHS 3011; B) WHS 3012.²

1. I met with Thieu at 1700 today and gave him a copy of the complete text of the four-party agreement as transmitted ref A, including Articles 16–18, and said that you had briefed the GVN delegation, including Dr. Do and Bui Diem, last night and had given them a copy of the text.³ I said that we would send the Vietnamese text as soon as it is available. I explained that work was continuing on the protocols, that you will leave tonight and the experts will continue the drafting and conforming of texts.

2. I said that we consider now that work has been completed on the draft agreement and that no further changes are possible. The DRV has shown a more constructive and reasonable attitude during the talks held this past week and in view of the progress that has been made, the President has asked General Haig to come to Saigon again to report on the status of the negotiations. We believe that we have now reached a point where we are in a position to conclude the agreement and, of course, we expect to move along together. General Haig will plan to arrive in Saigon Tuesday morning, January 16.

3. Thieu asked whether the draft which I transmitted to him was final and I replied that it was. He said that it was important to get the Vietnamese text as soon as possible to have in hand before General Haig’s arrival, and I assured him that we would get it to him as soon as it is available.

4. Thieu said that he considered the protocols also very important and would like to have the Vietnamese texts of these as soon as they are available. He said that he had put Prime Minister Khiem in charge of the GVN study of the protocols and Khiem has been supervising General Vinh Loc’s group which has been developing ideas. (Knowing Vinh Loc I doubt that they are very practical.) They are to give Thieu a briefing Monday morning.

5. Thank you for ref B, especially information contained paragraph 4 which is helpful. I look forward to seeing Al Haig morning of the 16th, Saigon time.

6. Warm regards.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 28, HAK Trip Files, HAK Paris Trip Tohak 67–146, January 7–14, 1973. Top Secret; Immediate; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via the White House Situation Room, Guay, and Lord.
2. Reference A has not been found. Reference B is Document 273.
3. See Document 272. In Hakto 31, January 12, 2050Z, Kissinger sent the text of the Four-Party Agreement to Kennedy and instructed him to forward it to Bunker. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 28, HAK Trip Files, HAK Paris Trip Hakto 1–48, January 7–14, 1973)