CABLE TO THE WHITE HOUSE FROM PARIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-17-3-29-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 16, 2011
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: October 4, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/12/16: LOC-HAK-17-3-29-8
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BY WIPL (BACK CHANNEL
T
1971
Ambassador Porter
FROM: Henry A. Kissinger
Thank you for your Paris 1.730. The proposal you have
nwLde in paragraph Z of reference appears to be a very good one,
I will discuss with the President and be in touch with you after
he has had an opportunity to consider it.
Warm personal regards
State Dept. review completed
HAK:AMH:Ids: 10/5/71
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/12/16: LOC-HAK-17-3-29-8
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/12/16: LOC-HAK-17-3-29-8
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/12/16: L6C-HXk- -'l 7-3-29'-8'
CRET
MNSH
0 041247Z ZYH
,"M PARIS
S ? C R E_ T 041155Z OCT 71
FM AMBASSADOR PORTER 9, PARIS
TO'THE WHITE HOUSE, EYES ONLY FOR DR. KISSINGER
-1. . I AM NOW QUITE SURE THAT !WN AND VG ARE FIRMLY ATTACHED
TO CONCEPT THAT THESE TALKS ARE "INDISPENSABLE" AND MUST. CON-
TINUE. IN THAT THEY RESEMBLE THE NORTH KOREANS WHO REGARD
`= PAAM.UMJOM DISCUSSIONS AS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL -FOR PRESTIGE
-AND PROPAGANDA REASONS. THE WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE UNITED
STATES IN PARIS GIVE THE NVN/VC SOMETHING FOR WHICH THEY COULD
FIND NO SUBSTITUTE. THEY NEED NOT EVEN NEGOTIATE SERIOUSLY
'BECAUSE AS LONG AS WE KEEP COMING TO THE TABLE THEY RETAIN THE
TALKS AS AN EXCELLENT SOUNDING BOARD FOR THEIR y~ f
`""` 2. ? I SUGGEST CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD
MAKE THEM PAY FOR THE PR?TV ILEGE, PERHAPS- BY USING THE ISSUE
_.OF THEIR HARSH TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. THIS PROBABLY SHOULD
rNOT BE APPROACHED BY US IN PARIS, HOWEVER. IF IDEA OF EXTRACTING
SOMETHING FROM THEM ' HAS MERIT IT MIGHT BE DONE THROUGH A
. ,DISCREET CHANNEL TO AVOID PUTTING THEM PUBLICLY IN AN EITHER/OR
-POSITION. IN SUCH-AN APPROACH WE WOULD LET THEM KNOW THAT
UNLESS THEY PROVIDE THE INFORMATION AND ASSURANCES WE HAVE
REQUESTED AND PERMIT CONFIRMATION BY AN IMPARTIAL BODY WE
MAY HAVE TO SUSPEND (NOT TERMIANTE) THE TALKS.
SOME PRETEXT SUCH AS PR OTECTIVE RAID. IF THAT IS DEEMED LIKELY THEN
PERHAPS THE BETTER COURSE WOULD BE TO SPRING. IT ON THEM PUBLICLY
,.AND GIVE THEM A REASONABLE PERIOD IN WHICH TO FORMULATE THEIR
RESPONSE.
4. WARM REGARDS.
..1.009