Indochina


64. Intelligence Memorandum, Washington, January 31, 1975.

This intelligence memorandum assessed the potential internal consequences of a communist takeover in Cambodia.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79R01142A, Box 1, Life in Cambodia After a Communist Takeover. Secret. According to the covering memorandum, not published, the CIA prepared this memorandum for Habib. CIA briefing memoranda, “The Khmer Communists’ ‘Communal’ Campaign,” January 29, 1974; “The Rebellious Chams,” January 22, 1974; and “Problems in the Pagodas,” February 5, 1974, attached but not published.


65. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, April 30, 1975, 8 a.m.

Kissinger and his staff discussed the situation in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 7, Secretary’s Staff Meetings. Secret. Kissinger chaired the meeting, attended by all the principal officers of the Department or their designated alternates.


66. Telegram 3140 From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State, May 8, 1975, 1150Z.

Chapman reported on developments in Laos after the Communist victories in Cambodia and Vietnam and asked the Department of State for guidance on U.S. policy toward Laos.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, State Archiving System. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated for information to Bangkok, Paris, and CINCPAC.


67. Memorandum For Secretary Kissinger, Washington, May 2, 1975.

The White House Situation Room summarized the situation in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Files, Presidential Daily Briefings, Box 3, 5/2/1975. Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword.


68. Defense Intelligence Notice, Washington, May 9, 1975.

The Defense Intelligence Agency reported on the depopulation of Phnom Penh.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 3, Cambodia (17). Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword. Prepared by A. Burger in DIA. A handwritten note at the top of the unpublished covering memorandum from Stearman to Kissinger, May 12, reads: “HAK has seen.”


69. Telegram 109710 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos, May 11, 1975, 0234Z.

Responding to telegram 3140 from the Embassy in Laos, the Department of State outlined U.S. policy toward Laos.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos, State Department Telegrams, From SECSTATE, Nodis. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Rives; cleared by Habib and Scowcroft; approved by Kissinger. Telegram 3140 is Document 66.


70. Telegram 3300 From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State, May 13, 1975, 1208Z.

Chapman responded to telegram 109710 from the Department of State on the future of U.S. policy toward Laos.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos, State Department Telegrams, To SECSTATE, Nodis. Secret; Nodis. Telegram 109710 is Document 69. The Department of State report, “Issues Paper on Laos,” May 14, prepared by Rives and Henderson, contains lengthy coverage of the situation in Laos. According to a covering memorandum, May 14, the Department prepared the report, not published, for Secretary Kissinger’s May 15 meeting with President Ford. Kissinger and Ford did not discuss the topic on May 15. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos)


71. Memorandum From William Smyser and William Stearman of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, May 16, 1975.

Smyser and Stearman prepared this memorandum to guide discussions at a scheduled May 17 WSAG meeting on Indochina; the group did not meet as planned.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 27, WSAG Meeting, Indochina, May 17, 1975. Secret. A slash appears across the first page of the memorandum; a handwritten note at the top of the page reads: “Meeting Cancelled.” Tab A, Talking Points, undated, attached but not published. For Tab B, see source note, Document 70. Tabs C and D not attached.


72. Telegram 122371 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos, May 26, 1975, 0049Z.

The Department conveyed a message from Secretary Kissinger to Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma concerning U.S.-Lao relations.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos, State Department Telegrams, From SECSTATE, Exdis. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Drafted by Zurhellen; cleared by Eagleburger and Huntington; approved by Kissinger. In WH 50942/TOHAK 009, May 27, Scowcroft informed Kissinger, then traveling in Europe: “The President was very quiet this morning. He was pleased to see that the Embassy in Laos would be reduced to less than 50 people. My impression is that he would be sympathetic to closing it down entirely.” (Ford Library, NSC Files, HAK Trip Files, Box 9, May 26–June 3, 1975, Europe, TOHAK, 1)


73. Telegram 3953 From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State, June 3, 1975, 0725Z.

Habib reported on his visit to Vientiane.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, State Archiving System. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Habib visited Vientiane from June 2 until 3. The Embassy in Laos relayed background papers to Habib in telegrams 3864 and 3876, May 30. (Ibid.)


74. Memorandum From William Stearman of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, June 6, 1975.

Stearman outlined U.S. options in Laos for WSAG consideration.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos. Secret. Urgent; Sent for information. Kissinger’s initials appear at the top of the first page. According to an attached correspondence profile, Kissinger noted the report on June 9. The NSC staff scheduled a WSAG meeting for June 27 to consider U.S. policy toward Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, but a handwritten notation in the June 27 WSAG Briefing Books reads: “HAK Cancelled.” (Ibid., Box 27, WSAG Meeting, Indochina, June 27, 1975)


75. Memorandum From William Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, June 9, 1975.

Smyser summarized and analyzed the DRV’s May 28 message to the United States and recommended that the United States respond positively.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, General Subject Files, Box 34, Vietnam, Camp David File (2), 3/24/75–12/11/75. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only; Outside the System. The DRV message, May 28, and draft U.S. response, June 11, are attached at Tabs A and B but not published. Text of the messages are in Document 76.


76. Backchannel Message WH 51044 From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to the U.S. Air Attaché to France (Oveson), June 11, 1975, 0627Z.

Scowcroft provided the U.S. response to the DRV message for Oveson to deliver to the North Vietnamese in Paris.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC East Asian and Pacific Affairs Staff Files, Box 11, Vietnam (11). Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only.


77. Telegram 139334 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos, June 13, 1975, 2321Z.

The Department relayed policy decisions to the Embassy on the U.S. presence in Laos.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos, State Department Telegrams, From SECSTATE, Nodis. Drafted by Rosenthal and Gardiner; cleared by Stearman, Crowe, and Shackley; approved by Habib.


78. Telegram 160796 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos, July 9, 1975, 0129Z.

The Department provided additional details on U.S. interests in Laos.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos, State Department Telegrams, From SECSTATE, Nodis. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Miller; cleared by Habib; and approved by Kissinger.


79. Backchannel Message 0124 From the U.S. Air Attaché to France (Oveson) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), July 17, 1975, 0944Z.

Oveson sent the text of the DRV response to Scowcroft.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC East Asian and Pacific Affairs Staff Files, Box 11, Vietnam (11). Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. On August 9 the DRV again contacted the Embassy in France with an offer to return to the United States the remains of three U.S. servicemen killed during the Vietnam War. (Telegram 20633 from Paris, 9 August, ibid.)


80. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to President Ford, Washington, September 29, 1975.

Kissinger reported on conditions in Vietnam since the communist takeover.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Files, Presidential Daily Briefings, Box 5, 9/29/1975. Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword. In New York on September 28, Kissinger discussed Indochina with PRC Foreign Minister Ch’iao Kuan-hua. (See memorandum of conversation, Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Vol. XVIII, China, 1973–1976, Document 119)


81. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to President Ford, Washington, November 3, 1975.

[text not declassified in time for publication]

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Files, Presidential Daily Briefings, Box 5, 11/3/1975. Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword.


82. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of Treasury Simon, and the Director of Central Intelligence (Colby), Washington, November 18, 1975.

Scowcroft requested studies with recommendations on U.S. policy concerning American arms captured in Indochina.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 16, SRG Meeting, Taiwan, February 27, 1976 (3). Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


83. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, December 17, 1975, noon.

President Ford discussed U.S.-Vietnamese relations and MIA issues with congressional representatives going to Hanoi.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 17, Chronological File. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the Oval Office. Brackets are in the original.


84. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, January 19, 1976.

Scowcroft summarized for President Ford a Department of State report on conditions in South Vietnam.

Source: Ford Library, White House Central Files, Subject Files, Box 59, CO 165–2, Vietnam (South). Confidential. Sent for information. Ford initialed the first page of the memorandum; a notation at the top of the document reads: “The President has seen.” Airgram 313 from Bangkok, December 16, 1975, is attached but not published.


85. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, January 26, 1976, 4:43–5:30 p.m.

Members of the House Select Committee on MIAs reported to President Ford on their trip to North Vietnam.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 17, Chronological File. Secret; Nodis. The meeting was held in the Oval Office. Brackets are in the original. Article 21 of the January 1973 Paris Agreement involved postwar reconstruction.


86. Minutes of Senior Review Group Meeting, Washington, February 27, 1976, 3:40–4:02 p.m.

Members of the SRG discussed problems related to U.S. equipment captured in Vietnam.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), SRG Meeting Minutes, Originals, February 1976 (2). Top Secret. Briefing book, with documents requested by Scowcroft on November 18, 1975, is ibid., Box 16, SRG Meeting, Taiwan, February 27, 1976 (3).


87. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, March 29, 1976.

Scowcroft encouraged President Ford to approve the March 6 Senior Review Group policy recommendations on the sale of American arms captured in Vietnam. Scowcroft also asked the President to approve a NSDM on the issue.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), NSDM Files, Box 64, NSDM 322, American Equipment Captured in Indochina (3). Secret. Sent for action. Ford initialed his approval on page 5. A notation at the top of the first page reads: “The President has seen.” Tab A, a draft NSDM, undated; and Tab B, Department of State report, “American Arms Captured in Indochina,” undated, are attached but not published. For the NSDM as approved, see Document 88.


88. National Security Decision Memorandum 322, Washington, March 31, 1976.

Statement on U.S. policy regarding American equipment captured in Indochina.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), NSDM Files, Box 64, NSDM 322, American Equipment Captured in Indochina (3). Secret. Copies were sent to the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


89. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, May 10, 1976.

Scowcroft summarized for President Ford a Department of State report on life inside Cambodia.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 3, Cambodia (23). Confidential. Sent for information. Ford initialed the first page of the memorandum; a notation at the top of the document reads: “The President Has Seen.” Tab A, Airgram 74 from Bangkok, March 31, is attached but not printed. The NSC staff prepared a second report, “Life Inside Cambodia,” May 29, from unclassified sources for public dissemination. (Ibid., White House Central Files, Subject Files, Box 10, CO 26, Khmer Republic, Cambodia) Kissinger discussed Southeast Asian issues, including the Cambodian internal situation, with Australian Prime Minister Fraser on July 27. (See Document 62)


90. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, July 10, 1976.

Scowcroft summarized for President Ford the experiences of refugees fleeing Vietnam.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 20, Vietnam (30). Confidential. Sent for information. Ford initialed the first page of the memorandum; a notation at the top of the document reads: “The President Has Seen.” Tab A, Airgram 136 from Bangkok, June 16, attached but not published. A related NSC report, “Assessment of Developments in Indochina Since the End of the War,” July 15, requested by the President, offers a detailed appraisal of the situation in Southeast Asia. (Ibid., Box 1, Southeast Asia, 7)


91. Telegram 33637 From the Embassy in France to the Department of State, November 12, 1976, 1805Z.

A summary of the November 12 meeting between Vietnamese and Embassy officials in Paris.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, 1969–1977, General Subject Files, Box 34, Vietnam War, Camp David Files (3), 12/12/75–12/15/76. Secret; Flash; Exdis. In telegram 72569 to Paris, March 25, Kissinger sent a note to the DRV on the establishment of relations. (National Archives, Record Group 59, State Archiving System) On August 30, Kissinger approached Ford: “We got a note from Vietnam. Do you want meetings? We would say it was for the MIA’s.” The President responded: “As long as that cast was put on it.” Kissinger finished: “They would raise other things. But we could stick with MIA’s. Of course we could drag it out, and certainly no conclusion would come before November.” (Ibid., National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 20, Chronological File)


92. Telegram 290657 From the Department of State to the Embassy in France, November 27, 1976, 1612Z.

The Department of State sent instructions for another meeting with the Vietnamese.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, 1969–1977, General Subject Files, Box 34, Vietnam War, Camp David Files (3), 12/12/75–12/15/76. Confidential; Priority; Exdis.


93. Telegram 35242 From the Embassy in France to the Department of State, November 29, 1976, 1805Z.

A report on the November 29 meeting between Vietnamese and Embassy officials in Paris.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, 1969–1977, General Subject Files, Box 34, Vietnam War, Camp David Files (3), 12/12/75–12/15/76. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Telegram 290657 to Paris, November 27, is Document 92.