LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT KY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-16-5-12-5
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 21, 2011
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: September 9, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM
-441
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCII
SENSIT VE/EYES ON
MEMORANDUM FOR: DR,. SINGER
FROM: Ji, I-I. HOLDRIDG
SUBJECT:
HE'SYSTEM
32358-X
URGENT ACTION
September 9, 1971
Letter From Vice President Ky
John Negroponte received Dang Due Khoi, Vice President Ky's personal friend
and adviser, at my office in the EOB this afternoon. (I stayed away in order
to give Khoi the least possible political handle.)
Khoi presented the letter addressed to you by Vice President Ky dated August
29 (Tab A). In his letter Ky states that it is imperative to resolve the present
electoral crisis which he believes will gravely affect the future of the joint
endeavor between our two nations. Ky also says he had several meetings with
Ambassador Bunker and valued highly his efforts to smooth out the course of
events. Ky says that the solution he had offered was for both Thieu and him-
self to resign from office so that free and unbiased elections could be organized
by the President of the Senate. He added that, while he remained open to other
solutions, the indications were that President Thieu is persisting in his plan
to run uncontested.
Ky closes his letter by saying he would deeply appreciate your advice and
assistance in this matter and that "Mr, Khoi is entitled to discuss all details."
In his conversation with Negroponte, Khoi was very low key. He said he had
already talked to Ambassador Sullivan and the principal purpose of his call
here was to deliver the letter. Ky, said that one thing that had not been men-
//honed in the letter but which Vice President Ky had told him to relay was the
Ci4be1ief that a "special envoy" should be sent by the U.S. to Vietnam to try to v/
work out the situation.
In talking about the present situation Khoi repeatedly referred to the need for
a'bonsensus" to overcome the present electoral crisis and he added that Ky
was ready to "play his part" in the search for such a consensus.
:
DOS, NSS, Review
Completed.
/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY
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IP
SECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY
Negroponte took the line with Khoi that he was simply meeting with him to
receive the letter which he would convey to his superiors and to take note
of what Khoi had to say. Negroponte did ask Khoi if Ky had been quoted cor-
rectly during his backgrounder last weekend when he is reported to have
threatened to overthrow Thieu. Khoi replied that Ky had been misquoted and
that the purpose of Ky's backgrounder had been simply to focus attention on
existing political tensions in Saigon. Khoi. expressed "regret" that he had not
been there to advise Ky when he made his remarks to the press, (i. e. to keep
him from putting his foot in his mouth.)
In response to a question, Khoi said he did not plan to divulge publicly the
fact that he had met with an NSC staff member nor the fact that he had delivered
a letter. We doubt, however, that his visit hire will remain secret very 1?r25X1
and see no harm in being prepared to reply to possible press queries that Khoi
delivered a letter from Ky to a member of your staff without divulging its contents.
I think we should also state as part of any response on this question that you do
not intend to reply to Vice President Ky's letter. This would serve to dampen
any speculation by oppositionists and uneasiness or concern on the part of the
GYN.
In the same vein, I believe you should authorize us to transmit a copy of Ky's
letter to the State Department on a NODIS basis. They have already inquired
about the possibility of receiving a copy and in this instance I believe we should
give them one to avoid generating any speculation that the White House is dPnling
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privately with Ky.
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RECOMMENDATION:
That you approve the suggested press guidance outlined above, including a reply,
if asked, that no White House response to Ky's letter is intended.
Approve
Disapprove
That you authorize us to transmit a copy of Ky's letter to the State Department
on a NODIS basis.
SECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY
Disapprove
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C/111111pL., A,
ngej 2.9 ditcifv s et,cierc 1971
-.Dear,.Dr. Kissinger'
I am sending my very trusted assistant, Er.
DANG DUO KHOI, to report to You on my grave apprehonSions
concerning the present developments in Saigon.
During our last encounter, I alray expressed
the fear that efforts on. the part of the government to
predetermine the outcome of the elections could lead to a
very serious crisis. I was much gratified to learn from
You that the United States was committed to fair elections
in Vietnam.
Unfortunately, the government of President
flGUYEN VAN THIEU has since resorted to all possible uanners
of fraudulent electoral manipulations. In the pant 3ix woe1=1
it has no openly, so defiantly corrupted our basic institu-
tions that the political life of this nation is new paralysec
with popular resistance and anger, and that our ociety nd
our armed forces are threatened wi h disintegration.
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111.
? I had Several. .;leotihs?with 1,.mbassador Mlsworth.
Dunker:, ?and I valued very highly.his efforts to smooth out
the course of events, but is was too late for me to
rectify the errors which had been accumulated over a long
period of time. Nevertheless, I made the su. .,estion that
both President Thieu and I should res
-- our offices
and leave the organization of totally free,
elections with the President of the Senate.
proposal to be capable of
ensuring.. both the
unbiased.
I believe my
continuation:of
the constitutional process, and political fairness vis a vis
the President. ivhile I remain open to other sucTestions,
indications until this hour tend to show that President
Thieu is persisting in his plan to run uncontested.
d?fedr that the present crisis will gravely affect'
the :future of the,joint endeavour between our two nationS.
What I regret most is that.-- by confining the presidential
'elections' to a? matter of. personalities - President?Thieu.
.denying the people?of.VietnaM.an?opportunity to pronounce
their ...options regarding Such -vital' iSsues as the search for
?peace, the 'basic tenets for our future economic and sodial ?
development the .chances of unity .ameng. the, non
CoMunists
in, South Vietnam... I believe that partly due to the
iMmense sacrifices consented to by your people in favor of
Ours, partly due to the new juncture in international
developments, this moment is the best for us to make such
It is therefore imperative that we resolve the
crisis, and proceed toward the future.
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ler
shall deeply aIlyreciate TAIT advices and your
assistance this l'atter. ? Khoi is entitled to
.?c1i8CUS'S all details.
In sending my envoy with this letter today,
dear Dr. Kissinger, I hope that You and I shall always make
good our mutual pomise to consult with each other in times
of difficulty,
our countrle
in .a spirit of' good will and of service
sincerely yours,
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