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Title:
Significance of Paris as site for Vietnamese negotiations
Date of Creation:
May 6, 1968
Date of Declassification:
May 11, 1992
Type of Document:
Intelligence memorandum
Level of Classification:
NOT GIVEN
Status of Copy:
ORIGINAL
Pagination, Illustration:
8 p.
Abstract:
French clearly hopes to profit from the choice of Paris as a site for preliminary US-North Vietnam talks--a choice which French officials earlier had made clear was desired by them but one which they would not take the initiative in proposing. Despite past harsh opposition to the US role in Vietnam, French officials probably will take a relatively neutral posture during the talks, both to encourage the choice of Paris as a site for permanent negotiations and to enhance the possibility that De Gaulle could at some point act as a mediator. De Gaulle's favorable reaction to President Johnson's call for negotiations was in part motivated by the French President's recognition that, if France hoped to play some role in the talks, he must mitigate somewhat his uncompromising stand against US actions in Vietnam. The mediating role is one De Gaulle would very much like to play if he felt the chances for a successful outcome were good, and French officials might make restrained, behind-the-scenes efforts to encourage this possibility. French police are confident they can maintain the necessary security and keep any demonstrations under control. The French Communist Party, which in the past has organized numerous demonstrations protesting US involvement in the Vietnamese conflict, probably will mount some form of propaganda campaign in support of Hanoi's position. The Communists probably, however, will in part base their activity on the line which Moscow adopts toward the talks.
Indexing Terms:
Declassified Documents Reference System Location:
1992-003139
Link to Full Text: