293. Backchannel Message From the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
Haigto 18. 1. I saw Souvanna for over an hour this afternoon, reviewing with him status of agreement and associated scenario, emphasizing as I did with Lon Nol that information must be held in absolutely strictest confidence.
2. Souvanna was pleased that ceasefire timing for Laos had been moved up to 15 days from date of Vietnam agreement and also grateful that maximum U.S. air would be available for use in Laos during the interval. I also urged Souvanna to maximize FAR efforts during this period to achieve best possible friendly position on the ground.
3. Souvanna said his principal concern was timing of NVA withdrawal from Laos under terms of agreement asking why we had not fixed specific deadline directly in our bilateral talks with Hanoi. In response, I emphasized that Hanoi’s obligation was specific and, despite absence of fixed date for completion of withdrawal, Hanoi would have no grounds for protracting withdrawals. Moreover, we have leverage of U.S. and SGU presence until satisfactory withdrawal modalities worked out between RLG and Pathet Lao. Finally, with permitted resupply points in South Vietnam itself, Laos would no longer be a crucial logistics base for NVA operations in SVN.
[Page 1062]4. Souvanna seemed reassured by these explanations and was especially appreciative of our efforts to keep him fully informed.
Warm regards.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 860, For the President’s Files (Winston Lord)—China Trip/Vietnam, Sensitive Camp David, Vol. XXIV. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Haig was likely en route from Vientiane to Saigon.↩