167. Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) in Paris1
Tohak 173/WHP 254. Deliver immediately at opening of business, December 13.
As we discussed on the telephone on December 12, the President has asked that I deliver the attached message from him to you prior to the December 13 meeting in Paris.
Warm regards.
Prior to your departure for Washington for consultations on Wednesday, December 13, I want you to be aware that the United States will under no circumstances participate in a precipitous settlement which is unsound and which offers no hope of implementation or the ultimate achievement of an honorable settlement. I want you to express my disappointment in the outcome of this round of discussions which have been characterized by repeated delays and procrastination on the part of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. In this type of negotiating environment, the United States can not nor will it make more concessions.
I remain genuinely interested in achieving a negotiated settlement of the conflict and I am convinced that the time has come to turn a new page in our relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Your counterpart should be aware that I stand ready to consummate an honorable settlement at any time that Hanoi is prepared to join with us in a [Page 613] spirit of goodwill and reciprocity. Until that time arrives, however, the understandings which have governed the conduct of both sides during these talks will no longer apply and until there has been measurable progress in resolving the current impasses the U.S. side intends to act in accordance with its own interest.
Warm regards.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 27, HAK Trip Files, HAK Paris Trip, Tohak 100–192, December 3–13, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent via Lord. Written on December 12.↩