CABLE TO HENRY A. KISSINGER FROM ALEXANDER HAIG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-6-3-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: July 2, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

z,-Ts-tk ket.%lt.C.1
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-3-8 /9
111 ?
,
ARMY review
completed.
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
:t?
;10.1.1A
MORI/CDF
C05080906
TOPSECRETSENSITIVE 921935Z JUL 72 VIA CAS CHANNELS (puN" R)
FRflV: CE=AL LAID- SAIGON 0107 'MED IMajUl. 2_ 12 55
TO: THE WHITE HOOSE, FOR HENRY A. KISSINGER ------
I 7,PFNT THE DAY IN I ALONG WITH NEGROPONTE, KRAEMER AND
BROWN.iE ARRIVED IM -HUE IN THE MDST OF SOME EXCITEMENT AS A
RESULT O7 EARLY AM 13VM SHELLING OF NW OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY.
TH7 6TTACK?BY FIRE WAS BRIEF KILLING ABOUT 8 CIVILIANS BUT NOT
IN MY VIEW OF ANY GREAT SIGNIFICANCE. IT WAS PROBABLY LAUNCHED IN
AN EFFORT To Tr.FLUENCE THE QUANG TRI OFFENSIVE.
?I NET IN SUCCESSION WITH GENERAL TRUONG CG MR I, GEN LAM
MARINE' DIVISION CG, GENERAL DOG AIRBORNE CG, GEN PHU 1ST
DIVISION CO AND GENERAL 'NI 2ND DIVISION CG, ALL EXCEPT THE
LATT:R ''RE CONFIDENT AND NOT PARTICULARLY APPREHENSIVE OF ENEMY
CAPABILITIES. THE MARINES wERE CONVINCED THAT THEY
COULD 'IOVE TO THE DMZ RAPIDLY AND WITH EASE. THE AIRBORNE DIVISION
CG ',JAS ALTHOUGH CONFIDENT THOUGH PROPERLY CONCERNED WITH HIS LEFT
FLANK. HE TOOK ME ASIDE AND ASKED IF FOR POLITICAL REASONS HE
SHOULD PRESS TO TAKE (MANG TRI BECAUSE IF SO HE COULD DO SO IN TWO
OR THREE DAYS. I TOLD HIM YES BUT ONLY IF IHE MOVE WERE.
STRATEICALLY SOUND CONSIDERING THE THREAT TO HIS FLANK. IN THIS
REGARD TT IS INTERESTING THAT THE 'WEAPONS BEING CAPTURED IN THE
DRIVE P,R7 IN THE RATIO OF ONE TO OE BETWEEN CREW SERVED AND
INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS. THIS eOULD TEND TO SUGGEST THAT THE ENEMY
Is SHRT OF INFANTRY AND HAS ESTABLISHED A FACADE FORCE OF ANTI-
AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AND TANKS. TT IS ALSO INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT
7OR THE I.OST PART THE ENEMY BEING ENCOUNTERED IS NOT FIGHTING BUT
ADONING PIS WEAPONS AND EVEN SOME TANKS. .THE AIRBORNE
DIVInOr IS HOWEVER GETTING SdME PRESSURE FROM ITS LEFT FLANK.
THIS A'.; THE AIRBORNE HAD SHARP CONTACT FROM TANKS AND INFANTRY
IN M'ICH OVER 1219 ENEMY YERF KILLED AND SEVEN WERE CAPTURED.
nW1 ASSESSMENT ADMITTEDLY BASED UPON THE MOST LIMITED
Y=LE IS THAT THE OFFENSIVE SHOULD COMMIE UNTIL GUANO TRI
LiATED. ALL THE coMMArD7.RS I SPOKE TO WERE CONFIDENT THAT
T} LY wAs MwCH wEAKER TPA" HE HAD BEEN. ALL CLEARLY EMPHASURD
A 7!!-, nP Ir ENEMY MORALE, TRAINING AHD COMPETENCE. CONVERSELY,
ALL ARV!! HMS wERE-sTRoNGER TODAY THAN DURING EARLIER PHASES OF THE
ENEMY OF7ENSTVE.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-3-8
111Mtkrinil
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-3-8
4001r
25X1
T 'JAS IMPRESSED AND PLEASED TO SEE HOW GEN TRUOMG HAS
IMPROVED FIRE COORDINATION IM MR I. HE HAS ESTABLISHED A DIRECTION
CENTER WHICH INCLUDES ALL NAVY, AIR AND'ARTILLERY - US AND GVN
(r.F cool-Rol STTE. THIS SYSTEM COMBINED WITH SOPHISTICATED SHELL
REPORTIN HAS GREATLY IMPROVED ARVN'S
A7ILITY TO LOCAIE ANV L,EMY ARTILLERY.
NY DISCUSSIONS WITH GENERAL Pxu, NOW CHARGED WITH THE DEFENSE
OF HUE AS THE AIRBORNE AND MARINES MOVE NORTH, HAVE ADDED TO
TI7 IMPRESSION THAT THE ENEMY IS NO LONGER CAPABLE OF TAKING HUE
EVEN WITH THE THINNING OF FRIENDLY FORCES WHICH HAS RESULTED FROM
THEO7FESIVE. PHU'S DIVISION IS NEVERTHELESS TIRED RAVING
BEEN IN CONTACT SINCE EARLY MARCH.
ALL OF THE ARUN COMMANDERS SEEMED VERY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT
THE PROSPECTS FOR ? A CEASE FIRE. ALL REFLECTED SOME MIXED FEELINGS --
FEAR .TIPT A BAD DEAL MIGHT BE IMPOSED ON THEM BUT OBVIOUSLY ANXIOUS
TO PERCEIVE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. ALL WERE DELIGHTED AND
IMPRESSED WITH US ACTIONS AGAINST THE NORTH. TRUONG AND LAM .
MENTIONED THAT BEFORE TOO LONG THEY COULD AND SHOULD ATTACK NORTH OF
THE Da. IF NECESSARY.
. GENERAL PHU .STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE ENEMY WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO RETURN IN EQUIVALENT STRENGTH FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS IF
WE CONTINUE TO PUNISH ? HIM FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS.
, I SPOKE TO VOGT EARLY THIS AM PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR MR I, .
HE IS FULLY APPRISED OF YOUR THINKING ON BOMBING AND WILL COMPLY.
GENERAL WEYAND IS ALSO WELL. AWARE OF HOW THINGS ARE DONE IN DC
AND OF THE NEED TO USE THE SPECIAL CHANNEL THROUGH BUNKER WHENEVER
DOUBTS EXIST.
L AM PROCEEDING NOW TO PHNOM PENH' AND WILL SEE LON NOL IN
ANCAt2D THIEU TOMORROW AFTERNOON. I WILL HAVE DINNER WITH BUNKER
TOMORROW NIGHT AND DEPART SAIGON AT 10:00 PM LOCAL FOR EL TORO
VIA CIPCPAC. WARM REGARDS.
? TOP SECI1ET SEMTIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/10/03: LOC-HAK-490-6-3-8