'CLOSED SESSION' DEMAND IS U.S. STALLING TACTIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01601R000300360093-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2000
• Sequence Number: 93
• Publication Date: July 12, 1971
• Content Type: NSPR

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THE CENTRAL Intelligence Agency, it
is reported from Washington, has warned
President Nixon that the Vietcong's peace
proposal, presented in Paris last month,
was designed to embarrass the President
and encourage the opponents of South
Vietnam's President Thicu.
Ali so. Thanks to the analytical brilliance
1 of the. CIA., we can now see the report for
what'fLis A diabolical. scheme to make Mr.
Nixon stick to his promise.
The President's promise was that Y.J.S.
troops were staying in Vietnam only until
all U.S. prisoners of war were released and
until the South Vietnamese had a "reasona-
ble chance"'of defending thciriselves.
So the Vietcong proposed that U.S. with-
drawal and the release of prisoners be si-
"lie only coinInitted slaughter;
you committed indisciretion.,,
rp U F1, a
. C- :, tic"
rniiltaneous, and that the U.S. "cease back-
ing-the bellicose group headed by Nguyen
Van Thicu at present in office in Saigon,
'and stop all maneuvers, including tricks on
elections, aimed at maintaining the puppet
Nguyen Van Thicu."
Considering that the administration in-
sists that it's. playing no favorites in the
October elections in Vietnam, that it has
never played favorites, Mr. Nixon has inet
that Vietcong demand.
And snore than once the President has-
told us that the Saigon government has a
reasonable chance. After the invasion of
Cambodia last year, he said the Vietnamese
army "can hack it." After the invasion of
Laos lie announced that- "Vietnamization
has succeeded."
What we fail to understand, then, is why
the best- response that Ambassador David
Bruce could make at Thursday's session of
the Paris peace talks was a request for a
"restricted session." All the meetings are
restricted in that they are closed to outsid-
ers. What Mr. Bruce wanted, lie said, was
a forum without the need to make public
statements, "except to the degree we mu-
tually agree upon."
Since no one is required to make a public
statement, the proposal amounted to a re-
quest that the Vietcong and the North Vi-
etnaine~e don't say anything. As such, it is
nothing more than a stalling tactic. Mr.
Nixon needs it.
The President, we imagine, is not.spe'nd..
ing his vacation at Sal) Clemente chasing
golf balls or watching sunsets. He was,
already undet heavy pressure from the
American public to end our involvement in
this disastrous war. The disclosure-s of the
Pentagon papers increased the pressure.
And now the Vietcong proposal.
Mr. Nixon, we imagine, is worrying hard.
I-low can he get off the hook? With iio io v
of course.
Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP8O-01601 R000300360093-1