PARIS NEGOTIATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-449-2-16-4
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: January 20, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-449-2-16-4
? c..7 S HK .15SV l -3 49
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
OSD Review
Completed
/,CNSITIVE
fiY S ONLY
State Dept. review
completed
MEMORANDUM FOR JOHN HOLDRIDGE
FROM: Al Haig j'
SUBJECT: Paris Negotiations
January ZO, 1971
MORI
C05105117
On reading Secretary Laird's memorandum to Secretary Rogers
suggesting that a small select group by tasked with reviewing Vietnam
negotiations (Tab A) MAX consented, "Let's hale it part of the NSC
system. We have groups for this purpose. Give it to Sullivan to
report to the Senior Review Group. "
We have subsequently received secretary Roger*' reply, which indite
cites that there is a split between the two Secretaries on this issue, f Tab B).
Would you please prepare, on an urgent basis, a memorandum for
HAK presenting the views of both Secretaries and your suggestions
for resolving the isms. It seems to me that Secretary Rogers has
given as a way for killing the Laird suggestion and thus keeping the
negotiating effort within the existing NSC framework. One approach
would be to let Sullivan know through yo that we Concur that it is
best to keep our efforts within the existing framework.
AMH:JTH:mlc 1-20-71
TeP JSENSITIYE/EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22 : LOC-HAK-449-2-16-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22 LOC-HAK-449-2-16-4
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE C ~,rs 1~ v~"
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301 < '
18 JA? 1971
The Honorable William P. Rogers
Secretary of State
Washington, D. C.
Dear Bill:
My just-completed trip to Paris, Bangkok, and Saigon was, as
I have told you, a most rewarding one. I was especially pleased
with the full and frank discussions with Ambassadors Bruce and Habib.
Although I am not overly optimistic as a result of these dis-
cussions about diplomatic progress on Southeast Asia issues, I do
feel we should give further thought to our position in Paris. The
President has stated that his Administration will be judged on
.whether it ends the war in Southeast Asia. I have. always interpre-
ted this to apply to direct.U. S. involvement.
As you know, the first phase of the Vietnamization program, to
relieve U. S. forces of the ground combat responsibilities, will
almost be completed by l May 1971, when we will be at or below the
authorized troop ceiling of 284,000 announced by the President on
20 April 1970. We already are implementing the second phase of the
program to turn over responsibility in the air, at sea, and for
artillery, logistic and other support activities on the ground.
We can and will meet the President's goal of ending direct U. S.
involvement, at least by the end of 1972. But to do so sets the
toughest kind of Vietnam deadline date. The 1971-1972 period
will be exacting in the political and economic realm, as well as
that of the military.
With this deadline, it is essential that we now work back from
that date and determine all those steps which can be, and reasonably
should be, taken to achieve our objective. While Ambassadors Bruce
and Habib see little reason for optimism in the Paris meetings,
they agree that this does not mean we have explored every option
or exhausted every possibility in the negotiations.
Accordingly, I feel that a small, select group should be tasked
with reviewing the negotiations to date, with the hope that new
proposals and scenarios will emerge that further our objectives and
~~ r f f: ;': 3 L;: sue
have some chance of serious consideration by the other side. The
group, in my judgment, should be chaired by Bill Sullivan. I would
suggest other members include, and even be restricted to, Phil
Habib, George Carver from CIA, Dennis Doolin of my office, General
Fred Weyand from MACV, and Dick Smyser of the NSC staff. I would
propose that the group meet initially, either here or in Paris,
for four or five days later this month or in early February at the
latest.
I feel it essential that this be done, and that the review be
completed and (hopefully) new proposals developed before the President
announces.the,next redeployment package in mid-April.
cc: Henry Kissinger,
^ 1? 51
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22 : LOG-HAK-449-2-16-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22 : LOC-HAK-449-2-16-4 'lq4 S-SaC z
WASHINGTON 19
January 19, 1971
TOP SECRET - EYES ONLY
is 11 o0%Lt
Dear Mel:
Thank you for your letter of January 18 pro-
posing that a small group of representatives from
interested Departments meet to review new proposals
for the Paris negotiations on?Viet--Nam. As you know
from our discussions of this matter with the President,
I am satisfied that we have already made appropriate
and constructive proposals which,could result in
productive negotiations. Nevertheless, I am, of
course, sympathetic to the idea of the most thorough
canvass of negotiating opportunities in Paris to
assure ourselves that no avenue is left unexplored.
However, I am concerned that the sort of meeting
you suggest, which would bring together represen-
tatives from Paris and Saigon, as well as Washington,
might attract unwarranted attention and raise un-
requited hopes for progress at a time when such hopes
seem very slim. The communists, at this stage, seem
to be concentrating on'.military operations and the
chance of exploiting" the Vietnamese election campaigns
to their advantage. They appear to be very little
interested in exploring the thoroughly attractive
.negotiating proposals which the President put forward
on October 7 of last year.
Consequently, rather than bringing in people
from the field at this juncture, I would suggest that
appropriate representatives here in Washington first
examine informally what, if any, proposals for action
in Paris may merit further consideration. If this
process produces any positive proposals, you and I
The Honorable
Melvin R. Laird,
Secretary of Defense.
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TOP SECRET - EYES ONLY
can consider what additional action to take.
With this view in mind, I have asked Bill
Sullivan to be in touch with Dennis Doolin in the
near future.
Sincerely,
William P. Rogers
TOP SECRET -- EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/11/22 : LOC-HAK-449-2-16-4