CODEL MURKOWSKI MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HOANG BICH SON: JANUARY 17, 1986; EXCEPT ODP DISCUSSION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900043-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 14, 2010
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: January 20, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/10/21: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900043-7
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CODEL MURKOWSKI
CINCPAC FOR CARL TAYLOR
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF, PREL, OREP, MOPS, US, VM
SUBJECT: CODEL MURKOWSKI MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY
FOREIGN MINISTER HOANG BICH SON: JANUARY 17, 1986:
EXCEPT ODP DISCUSSION
1. (CONFIDENTIAL-ENTIRE TEXT.)
2. CODEL MURKOWSKI MET WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER
HOANG BICH SON AT THE STATE GUEST HOUSE IN HANOI ON
JANUARY 17, 1986. NGUYEN CAN, ACTING DIRECTOR OF
NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS AT THE MFA, VU THI HUE AND NGO
HOANG OF THE NORTH AMERICAN DIRECTORATE AND LE TRAN
TIEN OF THE PRESS DIRECTORATE ASSISTED SON. DO VAN
MINH ACTED AS INTERPRETER. THE MEETING TOOK PLACE IN
A CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE. THE MOST INTERESTING NEW
ELEMENT WAS SON'S USING A FORMULA WHICH CREATED A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AMBIGUI.TY ON THE QUESTION OF LIVE
AMERICANS IN VIETNAM. THE CODEL OFFERED TO MAKE THE
EXPERTISE OF THE CENTRAL IDENTIFICATION LABORATORY IN
HAWAII AVAILABLE TO THE VIETNAMESE TO ASSIST THEM IN
THEIR EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY THEIR OWN MIA'S. SON'S
REPLY WAS NONCOMMITAL.
3. SENATOR MURKOWSKI, AT SON'S INVITATION, BEGAN THE
DISCUSSION, BY INTRODUCING HIS PARTY. IN DOING SO HE
EMPHASIZED THAT THE CODEL CAME AS ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THAT ITS
MISSION, THOUGH COMPLEMENTARY, WAS NOT THE SAME AS
THAT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARIES WOLFOWITZ AND ARMITAGE
DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK. IT WAS BENEFICIAL TO
CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE BEGUN BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND
HE LOOKED FORWARD TO AN INCREASED COOPERATIVE EFFORT
ON MIA's IN THE FUTURE. HE NOTED THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED BY ALLEGATIONS OF AMERICANS
REMAINING IN VIETNAM AND HE WANTED TO EXPLORE THE
POSSIBILITY OF AMERICA AND VIETNAM JOINTLY FOLLOWING
UP THESE REPORTS.
Annihir-InchiTiAl
J'~rrIMI 1VVIm t f7"[T~-
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4. THE SENATOR ALSO UNDERLINED THE FACT THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE ADMINISTRATION GIVE THE
HIGHEST PRIORITY TO RESOLUTION OF THE MIA ISSUE. HE
NOTED THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE WORK PLAN
TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITHIN TWO YEARS. WE SHOULD
EXPLORE HOW TO INCREASE COOPERATION IN ITS RESOLUTION
BY USING WHATEVER RESOURCES WERE NECESSARY IN THE
EFFORT. HE ADDED THAT THE DELEGATION WOULD LIKE A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF VIETNAMESE CONCERNS REGARDING
THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM.
5. SENATOR MURKOWSKI ALSO OBSERVED THAT WE COULD
DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES AND A
POSSIBLE AMERICAN TECHNICAL PRESENCE IN HANOI, BUT
THAT MESSRS. WOLFOWITZ AND ARMITAGE HAD SAID THAT
THERE WAS NO NEED FOR SUCH AN OFFICE UNLESS THE PACE
OF ACTIVITY INCREASED. HE SUGGESTED THAT, KNOWING
VIETNAM'S CONCERN FOR ITS OWN MIA'S, AMERICAN
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE MIGHT ASSIST VIETNAM IN ITS OWN
RECOVERY EFFORTS. SPEAKING PERSONALLY, HE THOUGHT WE
MIGHT ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF AMERICAN TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE IN VIETNAM'S EFFORTS.
6. THE SENATOR THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE VIETNAMESE
MIGHT INFORM THE CODEL REGARDING THE SITUATION IN
CAMBODIA AND ON THE BORDER WITH CHINA.
7. REGARDING LIVE SIGHTINGS OF AMERICANS, THE
SENATOR TOLD SON THAT WHEN HE RETURNED TO WASHINGTON
HE WOULD HOLD EXTENSIVE HEARINGS ON THE SUBJECT. THE
VETERANS COMMITTEE WOULD INVITE AMERICANS WHO HAD
MADE SUCH ALLEGATIONS TO GIVE DETAILED INFORMATION ON
THE BASES OF THEIR ACCOUNTS AND THEN ALLOW THE
ADMINISTRATION TO RESPOND TO THE INFORMATION
PRODUCED. HE PROPOSED THAT VIETNAM AND THE UNITED
STATES MAKE A JOINT EFFORT TO RESOLVE THESE REPORTS.
8. SON IN REPLY OBSERVED THAT THERE ARE MANY
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND VIETNAM,
BUT THAT DISCUSSIONS WITH AMERICAN DELEGATIONS,
PARTICULARLY WITH THE ARMITAGE GROUP, HAD REVEALED
THAT WE BOTH HAD SOMETHING IN COMMON. WE BOTH WANT TO
RESOLVE THE HUMANITARIAN ISSUE OF THE MIA'S. WE ALSO
BOTH AGREED THAT IT WAS SEPARATE FROM OTHER ISSUES.
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF, PREL, OREP, MOPS, US, VM
SUBJECT: CODEL MURKOWSKI MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY
THE FACT THAT WE HAD SOMETHING IN COMMON WAS VERY
IMPORTANT. WE HAVE AGREED TO KEEP THIS HUMANITARIAN
ISSUE SEPARATE FROM OTHER ISSUES. THE UNITED STATES
SAYS THAT THIS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE, BUT ALSO SAYS IT
IS A PRECONDITION TO NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS. WE
CAN RESOLVE IT WITH OR WITHOUT NORMALIZATION.
9. ON THE WORK PLAN, SON SAID, THE UNITED STATES
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO OUR PLAN AND WE RESPONDED.
GENERALLY SPEAKING WE AGREED WITH YOUR PROPOSALS.
YOU ARE NOW STUDYING OUR RESPONSE, BUi YOU -IAVE NOT
YET REPLIED TO US. THERE IS, IN ANY CASE. BASIC
AGREEMENT. WE HAVE NARROWED OUR DIFFERENCES. WE
INTEND TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES IN 1986 AND 1987. WE
CAN NOW DO MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE
IMPROVED SECURITY AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN OUR
COUNTRY. IN 1986 WE WILL MOBILIZE THE PEOPLE. WE
HAVE RECEIVED COOPERATION FROM THE UNITED STATES. IT
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BROADCAST A STATEMENT AGAINST TRADING IN REMAINS.
MANY PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH WERE DOING SO. THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS OF GREAT ASSISTANCE. WE ARE HAPPY
TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE. AMERICAN TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
IS VERY HELPFUL IN JOINT EXCAVATIONS. WE WILL TRY TO
FINISH IN TWO YEARS. SOONER WOULD BE BETTER, BUT IF
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DO SO WE WILL PROLONG THE
PERIOD.
10. SON AFFIRMED THAT ALL AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR
HAD BEEN HANDED OVER. WE TURNED OVER EVERYBODY IN
THE NORTH AND THE PROVISIONAL REVOLUNTIONARY
GOVERNMENT DID SO IN THE SOUTH. WE ARE NOT HOLDING
ANY LIVE PRISONERS. WHEN WE RECEIVE REPORTS
REGARDING LIVE AMERICANS WE WONDER WHO THEY ARE.
MAYBE THEY REMAINED IN VIETNAM AS FORCES AGAINST OUR
COUNTRY. WE WONDER IF THESE AMERICANS WERE SENT BY
THE UNITED STATES TO INFILTRATE AND LIVE HERE.
11. AFTER THE WAR SOME AMERICANS INFILTRATED
ILLEGALLY INTO VIETNAM. WE ARRESTED THEM AND HAVE
SINCE HANDED THEM OVER TO YOU. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE
OR FOUR, THE LAST ONE IN 1985. WE CHARGED AND FINED
THEM, BUT ONE HAS NOT YET PAID HIS FINE. WE DO NOT
EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER
ILLEGAL INFILTRATORS FROM THE UNITED STATES. THEY
MAY BE SENT BY THE UNITED STATES OR ENTER ILLEGALLY.
12. SENATOR MURKOWSKI ASKED SON IF HE KNEW OF ANY
SUCH AMERICANS. SON REPLIED THAT EVERYONE WHO HAD
BEEN CAPTURED HAD BEEN FREED. WE AFFIRM THAT THE
VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IS NOT HOLDING ANY PRISONERS.
IF ANY AMERICANS ARE HERE THEY ARE NOT IN OUR CONTROL.
13. SON SAID THAT VIETNAM HAS TOLD THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT THAT WE WOULD INVESTIGATE THEIR LIVE
SIGHTING REPORTS. WE HAVE DONE SO, BUT NONE HAS
PROVED TO BE TRUE. ONE, FOR INSTANCE TURNED OUT TO
BE AN INDIAN. ANOTHER, WITH BROWN HAIR, WAS A
KHMER. WE TOLD THE AMERICANS LAST WEEK THAT WE WOULD
CHECK OUT SUCH REPORTS, BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT
GIVEN US ANY NEW INFORMATION.
14. WE TALKED TO THE ARMITAGE DELEGATION ABOUT THE
CONTINUOUS PRESENCE OF A TECHNICAL GROUP IN HANOI.
WE FIND IT UNNECESSARY TO HAVE SUCH A PRESENCE NOW.
THERE ARE TECHNICAL MEETINGS EVERY TWO MONTHS AT
WHICH WE CAN EXCHANGE INFORMATION. THERE IS NO
REASON FOR A CONTINUOUS TECHNICAL PRESENCE. THE
VIETNAMESE PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE ON SUCH QUESTIONS AND
THEY SAY THERE SHOULD BE RECIPROCITY BY THE UNITED
STATES.
15. SENATOR DECONCINI ASKED IF VIETNAM WOULD
CONSIDER THE TEMPORARY PRESENCE IN HANOI, FOR THREE
OR FOUR MONTHS, OF AN AMERICAN TEAM WHICH WOULD HAVE
ONLY TWO PURPOSES: TO INVESTIGATE LIVE SIGHTINGS,
AND TO EXPEDITE THE DISCOVERY OF REMAINS AND THEIR
REPATRIATION. SON REPLIED THAT THE TECHNICAL
MEETINGS WHICH TAKE PLACE EVERY TWO MONTHS WERE
ADEQUATE. THE SENATOR RESTATED HIS QUESTION. SON
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF, PREL, OREP, MOPS, US, VM
SUBJECT: CODEL MURKOWSKI MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY
CONFIDENTIAL
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16. SENATOR DECONCINI OBSERVED THAT THE VIETNAMESE
HAD BEEN MEETING WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF THE MIA QUESTION WERE
SOLVED THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE MOVEMENT TOWARD
RELATIONS. THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH BELIEVES WE SHOULD
WORK WITH VIETNAM ON THE QUESTION TO ASSURE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT ALL AMERICAN PRISONERS ARE GONE
AND THAT WE ARE NOT SENDING ANY AMERICANS INTO
VIETNAM. A TEMPORARY PRESENCE IN HANOI SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED. (COMMENT: THE CAMBODIA ISSUE WAS ADDED
IN THIS CONTEXT LATER IN THE CONVERSATION. END
COMMENT.)
17. SON REPLIED THAT VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES
NOW COOPERATE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MEETINGS TAKE
PLACE EVERY TWO MONTHS IN WHICH WE EXCHANGE
INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ADVICE. IF, IN FACT, THERE
SHOULD BE AN OFFICE HERE IT SHOULD BE BASED ON
RECIPROCITY. WE DO NOT NOW NEED TO HAVE AN OFFICE IN
WASHINGTON. HOWEVER.
18. SENATOR MURKOWSKI ASKED IF SON WAS INTERESTED IN
HIS SUGGESTION REGARDING AMERICAN ASSISTANCE IN
REGARD TO VIETNAM'S 300 THOUSAND MIA'S. THE AMERICAN
EXPERTISE CENTERED IN THE CENTRAL IDENTIFICATION
LABORATORY IN HAWAII MIGHT BE USEFUL. SON REPLIED
THAT VIETNAM WAS TRYING ITS BEST TO RESOLVE THIS
QUESTION BY ITSELF, BUT IN PRINCIPLE IT WELCOMED
ASSISTANCE.
19. SENATOR MURKOWSKI SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THE
QUESTION OF RECIPROCITY. THIS WAS A HUMANITARIAN
ISSUE. OUR PEOPLE IN HAWAII MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP
YOU. I PRESENT THIS IDEA TO YOU ON THE BASIS OF
RECIPROCITY. WE SHOULD KEEP THE MATTER IN THE
HUMANITARIAN AREA AND OUT OF THE POLITICAL AREA. SON
REPLIED THAT VIETNAM WOULD CONSIDER ASSISTANCE. HE
WELCOMED THE SENATOR'S PROPOSALS.
20. SON THEN TURNED TO THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM
WHICH IS COVERED IN A SEPARATE TELEGRAM.
21. AT THE END OF THIS DISCUSSION REP. MCEWEN
RETURNED TO THE SUBJECT OF ALLEGED AMERICAN
INFILTRATORS AND ASKED HOW MANY THERE HAD BEEN. SON
REPLIED, THREE WHO HAD BEEN CAPTURED AT SEA. REP.
MCEWEN ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM. SON REPLIED
THEY HAD BEEN CAPTURED, HELD, FINED, AND THEN FREED.
ALL SAID THEY HAD BEEN WELL TREATED. ONE HAD NOT
PAID HIS FINE AFTER PROMISING TO DO SO.
22. REP. MCEWEN ASKED IF VIETNAM HAD ANY OBJECTION
TO AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION INVESTIGATING LIVE
SIGHTING REPORTS. SON STATED THAT VIETNAM WAS A
SOVEREIGN NATION. IT WAS READY TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE
FROM WHATEVER SOURCE, BUT THERE COULD BE NO VIOLATION
OF ITS SOVEREIGNTY. REP. MCEWEN ASKED IF AN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION COULD MAKE SUCH
INVESTIGATIONS JOINTLY WITH THE VIETNAMESE. SON
REPLIED THAT VIETNAM OBJECTED TO VIOLATIONS OF ITS
SOVEREIGNTY AND WOULD REJECT THIS PROPOSAL. THEY HAD
TOLD ARMITAGE TWO THINGS. THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT
IMPOSITION FROM ANYONE AND THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT
INTERFERENCE IN THEIR INTERNAL AFFAIRS, EITHER FROM
THE WEST OR FROM THEIR FRIENDS.
23. SENATOR DECONCINI ASKED HOW THIS FIT WITH THE
SOVIET MILITARY PRESENCE AT CAMRANH. SON REPLIED
THAT VIETNAM HAD NOT ALLOWED THE SOVIETS TO ESTABLISH
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A BASE THERE. THEY MAY VISIT VIETNAM, BUT THEY
CANNOT HAVE A BASE.
24. SENATOR MURKOWSKI ASKED IF VIETNAM WAS PREPARED
TO CONSIDER HAVING AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
INVESTIGATE LIVE SIGHTINGS. SON REPLIED THEY WERE
WILLING TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION.
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF, PREL, OREP, MOPS, US, VM
SUBJECT: CODEL MURKOWSKI MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY
25. SENATOR MURKOWSKI ASKED IF VIETNAM WOULD ALLOW A
UNITED STATES NAVAL VESSEL TO VISIT CAMRANH. SON
SAID SINCE WE HAD NO RELATIONS, IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
COULD A BRITISH NAVAL VESSEL DO SO? SON REPLIED
THAT, THOUGH VIETNAM AND BRITAIN HAD RELATIONS, THE
BRITISH WERE NOT FRIENDLY TO VIETNAM. THE SOVIETS
WERE VISITORS. INDIA AND OTHER FRIENDLY COUNTRIES
ALSO SENT VISITING VESSELS. VIETNAM WOULD NOT SELL
ITS SOVEREIGNTY. THERE COULD BE NO IMPOSITION OR
INTERFERENCE IN ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS, BUT IT WAS
READY TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM ANYONE.
26. REP. BILIRAKIS NOTED THAT SON HAD SAID THAT ALL
AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR HAD BEEN RETURNED. WAS SON
SAYING THAT THERE WERE NO MORE LIVE AMERICANS IN
VIETNAM? SON REPLIED THAT THERE WERE NO AMERICAN
PRISONERS OF WAR IN VIETNAM. REP. BILIRAKIS ASKED IF
THERE WERE ANY AMERICANS IN VIETNAM AT THEIR OWN
CHOICE. SON SAID THERE WERE NONE UNDER VIETNAM'S
CONTROL. WE CANNOT GO EVERYWHERE. WE CANNOT ENTER A
CHURCH. THERE ARE JUNGLES AND CAVES. IF THERE ARE
ANY, THEY ARE NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL. REP. BILIRAKIS
NOTED THAT THE SENATE VETERAN'S COMMITTEE WOULD BE
HOLDING HEARINGS ON LIVE SIGHTING SOON. WOULD THE
VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION
RESULTING FROM THE HEARINGS, INVESTIGATE IT AND TELL
US THE RESULTS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION?
27. SON REPLIED THAT VIETNAM WOULD INVESTIGATE ALL
SUCH REPORTS. THERE WERE NO LIVE AMERICANS IN
VIETNAM UNDER VIETNAMESE CONTROL. VIETNAM WOULD
CHECK INTO ANY REPORTS.
28. REP. MCEWEN ASKED IF VIETNAM HAD ANY REMAINS IN
ITS POSSESSION. SON REPLIED THEY WERE LOOKING AND
THAT WHEN THEY FOUND REMAINS THEY TURNED THEM OVER TO
US. PERHAPS SOME WOULD BE TURNED OVER AT THE
FEBRUARY MEETING. THE SEARCH GROUP WILL MAKE A
REPORT IN FEBRUARY. REP. MCEWEN ASKED IF MORE THAN
50 REMAINS WOULD BE TURNED OVER. SON REPLIED, MAYBE
MORE, WE HOPE SO. OUR HOPE IS HIGHER THAN YOUR
HOPE. SENATOR DECONCINI ASKED WHAT THE NUMBER WOULD
BE. SON SAID HE COULDN'T TELL HIM NOW. SENATOR
MURKOWSKI ASKED IF WE COULD SAY PUBLICLY THAT SOME
REMAINS WOULD BE TURNED OVER. SON SAID WE ARE NOW
EXAMINING THE SITUATION. WE HOPE TO HAND OVER SOME
REMAINS. SEARCH GROUPS WERE NOW CHECKING. SENATOR
MURKOWSKI ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OBJECTION TO OUR
TELLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SO. SON REPLIED THAT HE
HOPED REMAINS WOULD BE TURNED OVER, BUT HE COULD NOT
AFFIRM THAT THERE WOULD BE A TURNOVER. REP.
BILIRAKIS ASKED IF WE COULD SAY THE MINISTER HOPED
THERE WOULD BE A REPATRIATION. SON SAID YES.
29. REP. BILIRAKIS NOTED THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WERE GENEROUS AND HELPED OTHER PEOPLES AFTER WARS OR
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NATURAL DISASTERS. THEY BELIEVED IN HUMANITARIANISM
AND, INDEED, PRIVATE AMERICAN GROUPS HAD GIVEN
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAM. THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE BELIEVED IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO RESOLVE THE
MIA ISSUE. IF WE CAN COOPERATE TO RESOLVE ISSUES
BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES THEN OUR PEOPLE WILL ALLOW
US TO DO MORE TOWARD BETTER RELATIONS. IF THAT IS
SO, MAYBE NEXT TIME I CAN COME TO VIETNAM AS AN
ORDINARY TOURIST.
30. SON REPLIED THAT HE APPRECIATED THE
REPRESENTATIVE'S STATEMENT. THE TWO SIDES WERE
DETERMINED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN A HUMANITARIAN
SPIRIT. HO CHI MINH HAD SAID THAT WHEN AMERICAN
PILOTS WERE IN THE AIR THEY WERE THE ENEMY. BUT WHEN
SHOT DOWN AND ON THE GROUND THEY WERE VICTIMS AND
VIETNAMESE SHOULD TREAT THEM AS SUCH. THERE WAS
ALWAYS FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE VIETNAMESE AND AMERICAN
PEOPLES IN SPITE OF THE WAR.
31. SON THEN LAUNCHED INTO A LONG HISTORICAL
ANALYSIS OF EVENTS IN CAMBODIA LEADING TO THE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF, PREL, OREP, MOPS, US, VM
SUBJECT: CODEL MURKOWSKI MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY
NECESSITY FOR A VIETNAMESE MILITARY PRESENCE THERE.
THE PRINCIPAL THEME WAS THAT CHINA WAS TO BLAME. HE
MOVED ON TO VIETNAM'S POSITION ON A SETTLEMENT, BUT
DID NOT DEVIATE FROM STANDARD FORMULATIONS.
31. SENATOR DECONCINI ASKED IF VIETNAM WOULD ACCEPT
A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT ARRIVED AT THROUGH THE UNITED
NATIONS' GOOD OFFICES. SON REPLIED THAT BOTH ASEAN
AND VIETNAM HAD PUT FORWARD FORMULAE FOR SOLUTIONS,
BUT THE TWO SIDES HAD NOT DISCUSSED THEM. VIETNAM'S
SOLUTION WAS TO WITHDRAW ITS FORCES IF CHINA WOULD
STOP ITS SUPPORT OF POL POT AND THAILAND WOULD NOT
ALLOW THE REACTIONARY KHMER TO HAVE BASES IN ITS
COUNTRY. THE SENATOR ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY HOPE FOR
A POLITICAL SOLUTION BEFORE VIETNAMESE TROOPS
WITHDREW IN 1990. A SOLUTION IN CAMBODIA WOULD BE A
MAJOR STEP TOWARD BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN US. SON
STATED THAT IF THERE WERE A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT,
VIETNAM WOULD WITHDRAW SOONER. A SOLUTION IN
KAMPUCHEA SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE KHMER PEOPLE. BUT
POL POT MUST BE ELIMINATED. SENATOR MURKOWSKI ASKED
IF VIETNAM WOULD ACCEPT FREE ELECTIONS IN CAMBODIA
SUPERVISED BY THE UNITED NATIONS OR ANOTHER
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. SON REPLIED THAT IT WAS
"OUR" INTENTION TO HOLD FREE ELECTIONS. THE KHMER
PEOPLE REFUSE INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION. THEY WILL
ALLOW OBSERVERS, BUT ARE SENSITIVE TO ANY HINT OF
SUPERVISION BY OUTSIDERS. OBSERVERS WOULD BE
ACCEPTABLE, BUT NOT SUPERVISION.
32. REP. MCEWEN ASKED IF VIETNAM WOULD ACCEPT
ASEAN'S PROPOSAL REGARDING FREE ELECTIONS TO RESOLVE
THE CAMBODIAN PROBLEM. SON REPLIED THAT THERE WERE
SEVERAL ASEAN PROPOSALS, INDONESIA'S, MALAYSIA'S AND
OTHERS. INDONESIA HAD A 12-POINT PROPOSAL. SOME
POINTS WERE ACCEPTABLE, BUT VIETNAM OBJECTED TO
OTHERS. THESE COULD BE DISCUSSED: VIETNAM HAD FIVE
POINTS. INDONESIA REPRESENTED ASEAN IN DISCUSSIONS
ON KAMPUCHEA WHILE VIETNAM REPRESENTED INDOCHINA.
33. THE DISCUSSION THEN ENDED.
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34. COMMENT: THE POSITIONS ADVANCED BY THE CODEL ON
THE ISSUES OF TECHNICAL COOPERATION, A HANOI PRESENCE
FOR MIA AND LIVE SIGHTINGS INVESTIGATIONS, THE PACE
OF AMERICAN-VIETNAMESE RELATIONS, "MUTUAL INTERESTS",
AND RELATIONSHIP OF THE CAMBODIA ISSUE TO
NORMALIZATION, WERE ALL REPEATED AND EXPANDED IN
CODEL'S SUBSEQUENT MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
NGUYEN CO THACH, PER SEPTEL. END COMMENT. THE CODEL
HAS CLEARED THIS MESSAGE.
BROWN
END OF MESSAGE
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