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.1 2
OP IMMED
DE WTE #3116 1630627
0 120609Z JUN 75
FM THE WHITE HOUSE
TO COLONEL OVERSON PARIS
JUNE 11, 1975
TO: COLONEL OVERSON
FROM: GENERAL SCOWCROFT
1. PLEASE PASS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO YOUR DRV CONTACT, TOGETHER WITH THE INCOMING NOTE RECEIVED FROM THE SOVIET UNION AS QUOTED IN PARAGRAPH 2. BELOW:
“THE UNITED STATES SIDE HAS RECEIVED THE MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DRV, DELIVERED THROUGH SOVIET CHANNELS, THAT THERE IS NO ENMITY TOWARD THE UNITED STATES IN VIETNAM AND THAT THE DRV IS IN FAVOR OF GOOD RELATIONS.
“THE UNITED STATES SIDE BEARS NO HOSTILITY IN PRINCIPLE TOWARD THE DRV SIDE. THE U.S. SIDE PROPOSES TO PROCEED ON THIS BASIS IN ANY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES AND IS PREPARED TO LISTEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS WHICH THE DRV SIDE MAY WISH TO PUT FORTH.”
2. THE NOTE FROM THE DRV AS RECEIVED FROM THE SOVIET UNION FOLLOWS:
“THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ASKED US TO CONVEY TO THE US SIDE THE FOLLOWING.
“THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DRV IS IN FAVOUR OF GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES BASES ON MUTUAL RESPECT.
“PROCEEDING FROM THIS AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SOVIET LEADERSHIP, THE VIETNAMESE SIDE DISPLAYED RESTRAINT DURING THE LIBERATION OF SAIGON WHEN THE AMERICANS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR UNHINDERED COMPLETION OF THE EVACUATION OF THEIR PERSONNEL. THE VIETNAMESE SIDE HAS STRIVED TO MAKE EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR NOT WORSENING THE RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE FUTURE. THERE IS NO ENMITY TOWARDS THE UNITED STATES IN VIETNAM AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SAME FROM THE AMERICAN SIDE AS WELL.”
WARM REGARDS.