Office of the Historian
  1. Home
  2. Historical Documents
  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976
  4. Document 376

376. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Deputy Secretary of State (Rush), Washington, October 15, 19731 2

Washington, October 15, 1973

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

October 15, 1973

MEMORANDUM FOR

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
[text not declassified]

SUBJECT: Withdrawal of Thai Volunteer Forces from Laos

After a review of the recommendations for the withdrawal of Thai SGU forces from Laos, it has been decided to proceed as follows:

  • — During the first twenty days following establishment of the new government, the RLG will notify the LPF that 13 battalions already have been withdrawn and that three additional battalions will be withdrawn in the initial period.
  • — During the next twenty day period, four additional battalions will be withdrawn.

The remaining ten battalions will begin to be withdrawn when it has been determined that the North Vietnamese have withdrawn a corresponding percentage (2/3) of their forces from Laos. They will then be withdrawn at a rate corresponding to that of subsequent NVA withdrawals.

You are requested to take appropriate action to carry out this course of action.

[signed] Henry A. Kissinger

  1. Source: [text not declassified]. Secret; Sensitive. Kissinger received this memorandum under a covering memorandum, October 10, from William Stearman of the NSC staff.↩
  2. Kissinger authorized a schedule for withdrawing Thai forces from Laos.↩