13. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1
13101. Subject: US-SRV Talks: May 4 Session: Flash Report. Ref: Paris 13027.2
1. Second session of this round produced no further movement on part of Vietnamese. They neither accepted nor rejected our proposal for establishing relations and exchange of Embassies, stating their view that they consider the three problems of MIAs, US “contribution to healing wounds of war,” and normalization of relations as interrelated. They asked for immediate removal of our trade embargo.
2. US side reiterated our proposal and President’s position on question of direct official aid to Vietnam, citing other means by which US resources already are going to SRV (i.e. via private and multilateral channels latter expressly without any further US objections) or could go (i.e. through commercial channels once embargo is lifted). We also expressed appreciation for progress on MIAs so far and indicated that we consider continued movement as integral part of any new relationship.
3. Phan Hien said US aid would stimulate further the process of MIA accounting and at some point Vietnam will have basically fulfilled its responsibility on MIAs. He said next “phase,” process of US aid, should now begin. These would in turn stimulate 3rd process, i.e. normalization. He read into record the “shopping list” of suggested aid items originally given to Woodcock in Hanoi. Hien said SRV had never used the term “war reparations,” only “US contribution to healing war wounds and to postwar reconstruction.”
4. During break Holbrooke told Hien that now was time to seize initiative, if political circumstances were not to change and reduce possibility of movement. Hien replied he needed to be able to tell Hanoi roughly what aid levels we might be willing to agree to after normalization, even if figure is kept secret. Holbrooke said this was out of the question. On future meetings, Hien said he would want to consult with Pham Van Dong in Moscow first. It was agreed to meet again in about two weeks.
5. Following break, Holbrooke summarized positions of each side. Both he and Hien agreed that each side understood the other’s position [Page 51] and that there was unanimity on the important objective of normalization.
6. Discussion ensued of press handling following meeting, with working out of language for possible joint statement3 to be made at press conference later in afternoon. (See septel.)
7. During this final exchange a few interesting items emerged. Hien showed particular concern with way we would handle press queries on aid. He indicated that a completely closed door response would make it more difficult for Hanoi to move. In response to final question on whether there was a difference in Vietnamese eyes between normalization and the establishment of diplomatic relations, Hien indicated that “normalization” was the process, establishment of relations the end result of that process. Holbrooke said the two were the same to us.
- Source: Department of State, Miscellaneous Old Vietnam Political Records, 1968–1991, Lot 94D430, Box 17652, VN Talks—Telegrams, Reports. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 11.↩
- No joint statement was issued. In telegram 13210 from Paris, May 5, the Embassy transmitted the text of the May 4 American press conference. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770157–0497)↩