CABLE TO HENRY A. KISSINGER FROM ELLSWORTH BUNKER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: August 28, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3 g to
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ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
State Dept. review completed
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P/1 ,VLYNTARY RE ENCIPHERMENT SAIGON 0143 SECT ION 1 OF 2
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T OP SE CR ET SENSIT IVE 20015Z AUG 72 (BUNKER) 25)(1
FRO: 6r3ASSADOR BUNKER SAIGON 0143 IMMEDIATE-77
TO:
TT-' E WHITE HOUSE:, EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY FOR HENRY A. KISSINGER
REFS: A) wHS 2 14 6; B) SAIGON 014 1; O) SAIGON 0142
qECTIOU CE OFTWO- -
1. I HAVE JUST RECEIVED FROM ;THIEU THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS CO N-
CER NO. NI OUR PEACE PROPOSAL:
1) ASSESsMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM ON POINT 4
IE THE V. S. PROPOSAL.
2) CONTENT OF POINT 4 PROPOSED By THE REPUBLIC OF viET-
rte:1 (TO REPLACE POINT 4 IN THE tf.S. PROPOSAL).
3) EXPLANATION OF POINT 4 AS PROPOSED BY THE REPUBLIC
OF VIET-NA(!. ;
4) nEMORANDUM SETTING FORTH THE GV N VIEWS ON OUR
RESPONSE TT THE GV N AUGUST 1S COMMENTS ON OUR
PROPOSED PEACE OFFER.
5), DRAFT- OF "THE U.S. lo-pona PEACE PROPOSAL"
(MI(!US POINT 4), (AS SUGGESTED BY THE GRVN). H
6) U.S.: PROPOSAL: ON CONDUCT OF 'NEGOTIATIONS (AS
SUGGESTED BY THE GRVN) '
2. 'I AM SENDING POINTS.1, 2, AND 3 IN THIS MESSAGE AND POINTS
49 5, AND 6- IN ,THE : IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MESSAGE. I REGRET
ZLAYS IN, SITE. OF.CONSTANT,. URGING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING
' THIS TO ,YOU
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
ASSESSMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM -
ON POINT 4 IN THE U.S. PROPOSAL
IT IS THE VIEW OF THE GVN THAT A POLITICAL SOLUTION FOR
STITE VIET-W, AS/CONTEMPLATED IN POINT 4 OF THE U.S; MEMO
OF ATWST 170 1972, PRESENTS SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES ON THESE TWO
VtAJOR PRI TS:
1/- THE ARBITRARY MODALITY OF CHOICE OF MEMBERSHIP OF
THE CR, AND RATIO 50/50 OF MEMBERSHIP BETWEEN THE GVN
ANDu'TE TLE IN THE CNR.
2/- A COMMITMENT TO REVISE THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE
fICDALITTEt CONTEMPLATED FOR SUCH REVISION.
THESE ARE THE REASONS FOR THE GVN'S STRONG RESERVATION
oN THESE TWO BASIC POINTS.. '
t. A).- THE 50/50 RATIO DOES NOT REFLECT THE RELATIVE
POLITIC._ STRENGTHS OF THE GVN AND VLF, AND THEREFORE IS NOT
IN CORRECT APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF SELFDETEC
INATTO OF "
THE SOuTH VIETNAMESE PEOPLE.
B)- THE "VETO" POWER OF THE GVN IN A 50/50 SET-UP
IN THE CNR IS ILLUSORY, IN VIEW OF THE COMMUNIST COMMON PRACTICE
OF VAIOUS KINDS OF PRESSURE AGAINST NON-COMMUNIST MEMBERS. .
THIS SYSTEM THEREFORE IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE SURVIVAL OF A
FREE SOUTH VIET-NAM.
C)- THE ACCEPTANCE OF :A 0/50 RATIO BETWEEN THE
GVN AND THE NLF WILL GIVE THE SO-CALLED GRP A/DE FACTO EQUALITY
WITH THE GVN, AND THEREBY WILL HAVE DISASTROUS REPERCUSSIONS ,
FOR THE GVN DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
-D)- THE CNR WITH 3 COMPONENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED
A DE FACTO COALITION GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE COMMUNISTS ARE
GIVEN 50 PER CENT OF THE COMPOSITION, AND WHICH IS IMPOSED UPON THE
SOUTH VIETNAMESE PEOPLE.
2. THE CONSTITUTION IS THE LEGAL FOUNDATION OF THE REPUBLIC
CF VIET-Ar.. THE GVN, ISSUED FROM THE CONSTITUTION, CANNOT
PLEDGE THE REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION IN AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT.
THE GVN CAN HOWEVER CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES OF
ALL0',:IVG THE NLFJO PARTICIPATE IN-THE POLITICAL LIFE OF SOUTH VIET-
N4M, THE FRAMEWORK OF EXISTING CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
No Objection to eclassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOCiHAK-490-6-26-3
6ONTENT OF POINT 4 PROPOSED BY
THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM
an REPLACE POINT 4 IN THE U.S. PROPOSAL)
4. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE INTERNAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN SOUTH
VIET7Y)A SHOULD BE BASED ON THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION OF
THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH VIET-NAM, IN THE RESPECT OF PEACE, WITHOUT
ANY FOREIGN PRESSURE, AND THROUGH GENUINELY FREE AND DEMOCRATIC
ELECTIONS4
ELECTORAL PROCEDURES SHOULD GUARANTEE GENUINE FREEDOM
AM-) ETJALITY DURING THE CAMPAIGNING AND IN THE BALLOTING TO ALL
CITIZENS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR -POLITICAL TENDENCIES.
A)- A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD 'WITHIN 5
.C)NTF7) AFTER THE SIGNING- OF THE OVERALL AGREEMENT, INCLUDING AN
INTERraTIONALLY SUPERVISED GENERAL CEASEFIRE. ALL THE POLITICAL
PARTIEf7 IN SOUTH VIET-NAM CAN PARTICIPATE IN,THE ELECTION AND
PRESENT CANDIDATES. - *- - , _
THERE WILL BE INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION FOR THIS ELECTION.
BY- THIS ELECTION WILL BE ORGANIZED AND SUPERVISED BY A
COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL,RECONCILIATION. ' THIS COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE
THE MODALITIES OF THE: ELECTION, THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CANDIDATES,
GUARANTEE THE EQUALITY IN THE BALLOTING AND CONTROL THE RESULTS OF
THE ELECTION:
BT
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
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FRO: A-o AqSADOR BUNKER SAIGON 0143 IMMEDIATE
TO: THE WHITE HOUSE, EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY FOR HENRY A. KISSINGER
'FUAL STECTION OF 2'
4
C)- THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL RECON-
CILWIO WILL BE FIXED AFTER A REFERENDUM. .
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION, WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF
IffE COVERnEETOF THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM AND THE NLF, WILL
OANIT.S PCD SUPERVISE THE REFERENDUM AT A TIME MUTUALLY AGREABLE
BY THE TWO SIDES AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE OVERALL AGREEMENT', IN
ORDER FOR THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF SOUTH VIET-NAM TO REGISTER THEIR
PREFERENCE:FOR THE-FREE'AND DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL REGIME OR THE
NLF.I
.
r, THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
WILL BE FIXED IN PROPORTION_TO THE NUMBER OF VOTES BOTH SIDES
RECEIVED IN THE REFERENDUM.' ' '
THE COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WILL ASSUME ITS
FUNCTIONS RIGHT, AFTER ITS FORMATION. ;
D)- ONE MONTH- BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TAKES PLACE
THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT WILL RESIGN. THE:
CHIRMAN OF THE SENATE, AS CARETAKER HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT, WILL
ASSUME. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES EXCEPT FOR THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES
PERTAITIG TO THE ELECTION, WHICH WILL REMAIN WITH THE COMMITTEE OF
EATIONAL RECONCILIATION.
E)-' AFTER HE ASSUMES OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT ELECT WILL FORM
A OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION IN WHICH THE POLITICAL FORCES
WILL BE REPRESENTED IN PROPORTION TO THE NUMBER OF VOTES THEY HAVE
RECEIVED IN THAT ELECTION. .
ALL THE POLITICAL FORCES IN SOUTH VIET-NAM WILL BE
GUARANTEED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF THE NATION IN
DEMOCRACY AND PEACE.
THERE WILL BE NO DISCRIMINATION OR REPRISAL AGAINST ANY CITIZEN OR
GROUP cc' ACCOUNT OF THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE PERIOD OF HOSTILITIES.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2912/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3
- -
IP
? EXPLANATION OF POINT 4?AS PROPOSED BY
THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM
1. YE CONSIDER?THAT'THE'PEOPLE. OF SOUTH VIET-NAM SHOULD
DETERMN'17. 3Y THEMSELVES THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF SOUTH VIET-NAM
TPROUGP [3ENUIMELY FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS AND BY WAY OF
ONE wOE VOTE. TO MAKE THE ELECTION IMPARTIAL, A COMMITTEE
OF.NATTONAC. RECONCILIATION WILL ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
ORGANIZE D. SUPERVISE THE ELECTION.
THFRE WILL BE INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION FOR THIS ELECTION.
YE ALSO CONSIDER THAT, TO GUARANTEE TO THE OTHER SIDE TO
PnTICIP(1: IN IHE'ELECTION, A REFERENDUM WILL. BE ORGANIZED AND
SUPERVI7ED 3? AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION WITH THE PARTICIPATION
OF THE GnVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM AND THE NLF, TO ?
L'E 'PEOPLE, THROUGH THEIR BALLOTS, TO DECIDE ON THE FREE
,AND DE.70CRATIC NATIONAL REGIME OR. THE NLF.?
,!!7, CONSIDER. THAT THIS IS A VERY DEMOCRATIC, CONSTRUCTIVE,
LO?,IOAL, J?,1ST AND HONORABLE FORMULA.THICH?RELFECTS FAITHFULLY THE.
A7PIRATIoEs OF .THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF SOUTH VIET-NAM, RESPECTS THE
RIT To SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH VIET-NAM, AND
ILLVTRAIIS THE SPIRIT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION.'
? :OREOVER, THE REFERENDUM BY ITSELF CAN BE CONSIDERED AS
A -T,:FFICIENT POLITICAL SOLUTION. HOWEVER, WITH OUR MAXIMUM' GOOD-
FOR P7ACE'AND NATIONAL RECONCILIATION, WE ALSO PROPOSE A NEW
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, EVEN IN THE CASE THE, NATIONALIST SIDE HAS
THE MAJORITY OF.THE.VOTES IN THE REFERENDUM..
3. ? .7!.!RTHERVIORE, AFTER THE: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THE PRESIDENT
LYCTYTL ALSO FORMA GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION TO ?
INCLUDE ALL THE POLITICAL FORCES IN PROPORTION. TO THE VOTES RECEIVED
IN THF. REFERENDUMIN. ORDER FOR THEM TO JOINTLY PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY?
IN TPE ADINISTRATION. OF THE NATION. ?
3. VARr?RESARDS.
stON (7'Pli NOTE: CANCEL SEGMENTS 021 AND 022.
#11,211114E
??JI, AS
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2912/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-26-3