Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume X, Vietnam, January 1973–July 1975

271. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Ambassador to Vietnam (Martin)¹

Washington, April 29, 1975, 0101Z.

WH50782. 1. The President has met with the National Security Council² and has made the following decisions:

• A. If the airport is open for fixed-wing operations today, you are to continue the evacuation of high risk Vietnamese by fixed-wing aircraft. You are also to evacuate by the end of the day all American personnel at Tan Son Nhut as well as all but bare minimum personnel from the Embassy.³
• B. While you should not say so, this will be the last repeat last day of fixed-wing evacuation from Tan Son Nhut.
• C. If the airport is unusable for fixed-wing aircraft or becomes so during the day as a result of enemy fire, you are immediately to resort to helicopter evacuation of all repeat all Americans, both from the DAO compound and from the Embassy compound, fighter CAP and suppressive fire will be used as necessary in the event of helicopter evacuation.

2. Admiral Gayler will be receiving identical instructions from Defense.

3. Warm regards.

1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Backchannel Messages, Box 3, Martin Channel, April 1975, Outgoing (3). Top Secret; Sensitive; Flash.
2. See Document 268.
3. In backchannel message WH50784 to Martin, April 29, Kissinger added: “We have studied your request to keep a small staff behind and the President insists on total evacuation.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Backchannel Messages, Box 3, Martin Channel, April 1975, Outgoing, (3))