279. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State1
683. Literally eyes only for the Secretary from Bunker.
1. President Thieu asked that I transmit the following letter to President Johnson. The letter was transmitted to me today although it is dated January 11th.
Begin Text
Dear Mr. President:
I have received your letter of January 8th,2 transmitted to me by Ambassador Bunker, and have given very thoughtful consideration [Page 815] to the points you made concerning the implications you saw developing from the situation in Paris.
At this time, I am hopeful that the preliminary difficulties will be awaiting our two governments after the talks begin, but I am also confident that our two countries will be able to meet them together successfully, in the pursuit of our common goals which are the defense of freedom and the establishment of an honorable and durable peace. The outcome of the present events will affect generations to come, and the Vietnamese people are proud to be with the American nation in meeting this crucial challenge.
As you know, side by side with the American Government, our government has made the utmost efforts in the search for a peaceful and honorable settlement of this conflict, and to give an early start to the peace talks. Among our major concessions to that end, the Vietnamese Government has accepted the presence of the so-called NLF at the talks, the possibility for the other side to organize itself as they wish, the absence of flags and nameplates (while at an international conference governments and only governments could and should have their flags and nameplates), and finally the round shape of the table which the Communists proposed.
We regret that the American public are not fully aware of the extent of our good will because, as Secretary Rusk pointed out in his press conference of January 3rd, “These procedural matters do conceal important questions of substance,” and “The delegates of Hanoi are trying to accomplish something indirectly, by means of procedural arrangements, which they are not entitled to do.”
In any case, now as before, you have always, as you have had in the past, our fullest cooperation, because our two nations are shoulder to shoulder in this vital struggle for freedom, and the Vietnamese Government as well as the Vietnamese people remain deeply grateful to you for the courageous decisions you have taken in meeting the challenge of Communist aggression in Viet-Nam.
We know that without the noble and courageous help of the United States under your leadership, the Republic of Viet-Nam may have been overwhelmed by Communist forces in 1965. American support has been also instrumental in the Vietnamese building of democratic institutions in recent years.
But the Vietnamese people are also proud people, and with the wholehearted support of the National Assembly of the Republic of Viet-Nam I have stated our purposes to make increasing efforts to alleviate gradually the burdens nobly assumed by the United States in this struggle. To that effect, I hope that a beginning of execution can be made this year.
[Page 816]Again, let me assure you, Mr. President, of our abiding gratitude for what you have done for Viet-Nam and the free world in the recent crucial years during which I have had the privilege of being in close and cordial relationship with you.
Sincerely,
Nguyen Van Thieu
End Text.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Paris Talks/Meetings, Paris Talks/Nodis/Paris Meetings Plus. Secret; Priority; Nodis/HARVAN Plus. Received at 6:49 a.m. Repeated to Paris literally eyes only for Harriman and Vance.↩
- See Document 276.↩