MISC RE REPORT BY A RELIABLE AMERICAN OF HIS MEETING WITH (GVN) AMBASSADOR BUI

Created: 11/8/1968

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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FOR REIUSE DATE.1

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Mandatory

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The following Isreporteliable and trustworthy American of his breakfast meeting with the Government of Vietnam (GVN) Ambassador Bui Diemt the residence.

the way to this meeting, the news had come overthat President Thieu had proposed that, under theormula. South Vietnam be designated head of thewhile North Vietnam be heed of the Communist one. had the full text of Thieu's statement. Hs* commentedGVN position representedmall change in the original

U. S.atherotally new and differentut that Itumber of Vietnamese concerns: it gave theore prominent"status'than thsj.NLT, It would put negotiationsietnamese-to-Vietnamese basis. -to-Vietnamese bails, and It would dearly- represent ft new stage of negotiations ratherontinuation of tha previous phase. Asked If he thought there' was* much chance of Hanoi's acceptance, he replied "noV but he added that It put the GVN on the offensive rsther than in the position of eppcftrlng to scuttle negotiations.

if be thought that, under one formula ornegotiations would be able to resume soon, Bui Diem saidit would take) some time. He said that he thought the"the U.ew bad ft President^ erect would slow" down theon the U.ide, sine* Presidentwould wishand seek the opinions--of tba*teemvftUo take some time to> repair the damage tohe latter point, Bui Diem said that, while there wasdifference In the U. S. and GVNuch ss the

U. S. willingness to leave GVN and NLK status at the peace talk* ambiguous while the GVN wanted moreuch, of the difficulty

in. relations had derive* from misunderstanding sode said that.thare.wcrc. delicaia nuances in the concept, ot negotiation* and. that tha twoused, the same language but gar*it diiforent meanings,". Bui Diem said he had discussed this problem with Mr. Bundy and that they had agreed that, at aome time in fits nur future, they should go over all that has transpired between the governments in recentPd.aeeh to> find ia itfuture-*olicy.

Asked if the GVN felt there wae any U.ttempt at deception, referring specifically to the apparent conflict between what Ambassador Bunker reportedly told President Thieu about proposals made to Hanoi and what Ambassador Fhan Dang Lam had been told by Ambassador Harriman, Bui.Diem replied he conidi notthat that was, the- case, bet there- apparently, was some ieelLng in the GVN that President Johnaoa ected-with uaduo haste and, that he may have been, influenced in pert by. domestic- politics..

Bui Diem satd that though he.would handle things, differentlyarAmbessa*roF'Jjamle= position, ho could not criticize Ltm'i actions because Lam's cables only pointed up substantive differences which did exist. Although the GVN and the U. S, did agree on the bombing halt, they did not agree on the arrangements proposed for negotiations, but these die agreements could probably have been resolved amicably if the announcement of the bombing halt had not been made so precipitously.

Asked how he would have handled things differently if ha had been in Lam's place, Bui Diem said that relatione between the U. S. and GVN delegations in Peris should be warmer than they nowa said that when relations are stiff, it ia impossible to chat at length informally and assure that each side understands all the nuancas of the other aide'a position. He said that, for example, he knew Jorden and Vance well and could joke with them; if they had disagreements, each side would know fully the reason for theand they could still joke with each other. Bui Diem said that while he couldoke with Ambassador Harriman, Lam could not.

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6. Whan asked if heof any planning in tha GVN forelegation to Paris, ftpld tbaA.a-

ui Diem said ha would recommend that

could not state

e,Ha .ate precisely when, but wouldhort timef

hia mumrequested, and If that did not haopen ha would propose It himself. Ho feltlt.would b* normal for him to report back to Sin la psrson on tha results and impaction, of tho ".

rapaated tha statement made at oVr lastfh,

ho aoVWdi tfrjl^<kfc.Paaffroui trma- tetliuw

aommon* on the elections, Bui Diem tald henotQxJruitolaM'f^aAsctloc'

Original document.

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