Office of the Historian

175. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1

Washington, April 9, 1971.

SUBJECT

  • Proposed Presidential Statement on Internment of POWs in a Neutral Country

At the April 8 Paris session, the GVN Ambassador proposed that able-bodied prisoners of war who have been held for an extended period of time be directly repatriated or interned in a neutral country. Ambassador Bruce strongly endorsed this GVN initiative.2 In effect, this represents a new policy initiative by our side at Paris on the POW issue, since we have never before taken a stand on internment of able-bodied POWs.

I consider that this initiative is a positive step which will be well-received by U.S. and world opinion, especially by wives and families of our POWs. In order to gain maximum publicity for the initiative, I believe it would be useful for a statement to be issued in your name expressing your support for the internment proposal. A draft statement for your approval is at Tab A.3 It has been cleared by Ray Price.

Recommendation:

That you approve the issuance of the statement at Tab A in your name.4

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 121, Vietnam Subject Files, Viet (POW) Jan-Jun 71, Vol. II. Confidential. Sent for action. Astamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” Holdridge forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger under an April 9 covering memorandum, recommending that he sign it. He noted that the Department of State had prepared the draft statement at his request.↩
  2. Bruce’s statement on April 8 is printed in the Department of State, Bulletin, April 26, 1971, p. 541.↩
  3. Attached at Tab A but not printed is a draft statement with minor edits. The revised version was issued on April 14 and the text is printed ibid., p. 568↩
  4. Nixon initialed his approval on April 12.↩