Office of the Historian

70. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1

Washington, February 4, 1965, 3:11 p.m.

1608. Instructions going out by military channels to appropriate commands calling off De Soto patrol during and immediately after Kosygin visit to Hanoi. Latest info indicates Kosygin arriving Hanoi February 6 and remaining for approximately four days.

We feel that having De Soto concurrent with Kosygin visit or immediately thereafter would be seen as reaction to visit. Aside from seriously complicating Moscow-Washington relations, having De Soto patrol at time of Kosygin visit might invite reprisals in such a way as to bring Soviets in.

Commands will be informed soonest of date for rescheduling patrol.

Ball
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by Green, cleared by Richard Davis (EUR), and approved by William Bundy.↩