CABLE TO HENRY A. KISSINGER FROM AL HAIG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-505-1-26-1
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2011
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: October 18, 1972
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/09/30: LOC-HAK-505-1-26-1
T O:P S F. C R E T SENSITIVE EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY TRUE DTG 1820552
VIA CAS (3UNKER) CHANNELS
;FROM: AL RATIO
TO: WINSTON LORD FOR HENRY A. KISSINGER'
CITE: WHS2234
TOHAY 35
OCTOBER 18, 1972
SECRETARY ROGERS AND AMBASSADOR JOHNSON, AFTER READING.
POLITICAL CHAPTER, HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS A TOTAL SURRENDER. ROGERS
MENtIGI;ED THIS AS AN ASIDE. 'TO THE PRESIDENT DURING THE MEETING WITH
PATOLICFtEV AND PRESIDENT'S ENTHUSIASM ISM AGAIN Al A HIGH WATER
LARK. vE JUST .CALLED ME TO HIS OFFICE AND STATED THAT I SHOULD
PROVIDE TO YYOU THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CONDUCT OF YOUR
INIT-IAL D'IS_CUSSION. WITH THIEU. THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES THAT YOU
SHOULD NOT LET THIEU SEE THE POLITICAL CHAPTER UNTIL YOU HAVE DIS-
Cu SED THE MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS -RELATED TO THE RELEASE OF POWS
AND VARIOUS SECURITY GUARANTEES, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF NORTH
VIEtiAMESE TROOPS. IN THE SOUTH AND THE CEASE-FIRE IN PLACE MODALITIES. PRESIDENT THEN SUGGESTS THAT. YOU MIGHT WISH? TO INFORM
THIEU THAT THE OTHER SIDE CONTINUES TO INSIST ON AT.,LEAST A FORM
OF COALITION GOVERNMENT AND WANTS SOME -ASSURANCE ABOUT THIEU'S
REMOV+.L FROM POWER. PRESIDENT SUGGESTS T-HAT YOU THEN TABLE THE
POLITICAL CHAPTER AS BEING THE PRESIDENTS ROCK BOTTOM POSITION
WHICH HE INTENDS. TO- HOLD ON AND FIGHT FOR, PROVIDED YOU CAN. BE
MORE ' FORTHCOMING WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER CHAPTERS.
P0V*gTn `NT h r.RTBED THIS AS A POKER GAME WITH THIEU IN WHICH. YOU
HOLD. YOUR TR'IUMP. CARD UNTIL THE LAST PLAT. I KNOW YOU NEED THIS
OF ADVICE AT THIS JUNCTURE BUT RECOGNIZE THAT THE PRESS OF
DISCUSSIONS WITH THIEU. `HOW STRONGLY YOU WOULD
CTMOF MOtR
GOf!D
:
.
PLAY. SUCH .A HAND WOULD., OF COURSE, DEPEt ON HOW FAR BUNKER. HAS
THT,EV. T HOPE YOU CAN PROVIDE US WITH A REPORT AS SOON AS IT IS
NTS.
O
F ASSIGNME
POSSI?L.E.?..BEST. OF LUCK ON THE TOUGHEST
WARM, .REGA'R.OS.
fON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
State Dept. review
completedi
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/09/30: LOC-HAK-505-1-26-1