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

319. Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (Haig)¹

Washington, January 21, 1973, 1620Z.

WH30143. Thank you very much for your message (Saigon 0347).² With regard to the points raised in your discussion with Thieu:

1. While it will not be possible to keep the protocols open as Thieu suggested, there will be a number of provisions that will require additional negotiations, e.g., entry points, two party joint commission. I believe that the GVN position can be adequately protected.

2. You can be assured I will make a maximum face-saving effort with Foreign Minister Lam. I expect to spend considerable time with him Monday evening following my arrival. I plan to have breakfast with him on Tuesday morning and will meet again with him following Tuesday session.

3. With regard to Thieu’s point on the legal effect of the protocols, there is no legal difference between the effect of the agreement and that of the protocols.

We assume we can still expect a reply from President Thieu by noon (Washington time).

Warm regards.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1020, Alexander M. Haig Special File, Gen. Haig’s Vietnam Trip, Tohaig 1–105, January 14–21, 1973 [1 of 2]. Top Secret; Flash; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via Lieutenant Colonel Brown. Haig was en route from Seoul to Washington.
2. Reference is apparently in error; message 347, Document 315, is from Bunker to Kissinger, not Haig to Kissinger. The reference presumably should be to message 346, Document 310.