- THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 16 1969 Mr Kissinger Sainteny approved the translation this morning before he left for Fl_orida He asked that the copy of his ·notes • and the translation be destr9yed after you · · show them to the President He has the original notes · 1 · ' SENSITIVE EYES ONLY Translation i I will try to meet with Mai Van Bo in the presence of Xuan Thuy and will give to him the letter destined for Ho calling to his attention that this time I have the latitude to let him know that '• President Nixon has authorized me to give it to him I will ask ' him to have this letter sent to Hanoi as rapidly and safely as possible I w ll inform him of Mr Kissinger's trip to Paris on August 4 and his desire to learn of Hanoi's reaction t_o the message of the President _ I will add that knowing President Nixon personally I had already had a conversation with him on Vietnam in 19·66 after my return from Hanoi In May and during these ·1ast few-days he has spoken with_ me with total sincerity I carried away from these conversations the conviction that President Nixon since ely wishes to put· an nd to this war and that he is prepared to discuss it with good will with the highest responsible authorities of the government of Hanoi on the condition that he would find on their part the same real desire to reach a conclusion But he will not allow himself to be snared by the tactic of drawing out the negotiations in the hope that American public opinion SENSITIVE EYES ONLY DECLASSIFIED E O 12958 Sec 3 5 NSC·Memo ll 24 98 S a Deot Guidelines By u · NARA Dnie'_ P fa 'l'f -· 0 SENSITIVE EYES ONLY i ·- • r _ -2- having become weary would finish by accepting an unconditional • - t -·- · i withdrawal -- a trap into which he will not fall under any circumstances He has decided to hope for• a positive outcome from the conversations at Paris by November 1 and he is prepared to show 1 good will by some humanitarian gestures which Mr Kissinger will I l- - I i__ • be prepared to discuss in detail But if however by this date -- the anniversary of the bombing halt -- no valid solution has been reached he will regretfully find himself obliged to have recourse to measures of great consequence and force When he talks of solution he does not mean gestures like the release of a few prisoners but steps indicating an imminent end of the war Regardless of public opinion or opposition Mr Nixon is determined to bring this war to an early conclusion rejects continu d talking and fighting He totally If this· diplomatic approach fails he will -esort to any means necessary SENSITIVE EYES ONLY -·