Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
negotiations can begin if the US "unconditionally discontinues all bombing raids and all other acts of war against the DRV." He added, "it is obvious that the US does not want peace" because every move in that direction was followed by more troops and an intensification of attacks against the north. He said North Vietnam will "never conduct talks with the aggressors under the pressure of force," labeled mutual de-escalation an "arrogant American condition" and claimed if the US is "really looking for a settlement...there will be no difficulties."
The New York Times of 10 July reported that at the Stockholm Inter- national Conference on Vietnam (6-9 July), British Lord BROCKHAY was told by DRV and NLF representatives that they would be willing to enter into peace negotiations if these conditions were met: an unconditional cessa- tion of the bombing; recognition of Front representatives at any peace negotiations; embodiment of 1954 Geneva Agreement terms in the settlement.
Eight Republican Congressmen suggested mutual de-escalation could be achieved if the US initiated a 60-day suspension of bombing raids against North Vietnamese territory above the 21st parallel. If Hanoi took a commensurate de-escalatory step within the two-month period the US would then suspend bombing north of the 20th parallel for 60 days. This would continue down to the DMZ at the 17th parallel. The Republicans felt this plan could produce a spirit of confidence between Hanoi and the US which could lead to negotiations for a similar staged deescalation in South Vietnam. (New York Times, 11 July)
Hanoi denied the report of lowered DRV/NLF demands; the four point stand was reaffirmed as the basic North Vietnamese position. (VNA, 21 July)
PRIME MINISTER SATO reportedly said Japan's position was that bombing of North Vietnam should stop immediately and all parties concerned in the conflict should sit at a conference table to negotiate peace. Sato added he would not hesitate to go to Hanoi if he were convinced the trip would serve "positively" to bring peace. He said the present situation did not warrant the journey, however. (Tokyo Kyodo, 31 July)
U TRANT, speaking to a Quaker group on 30 July, said "an honorable peace could be brought about in Vietnam" and indicated the first step is to end the bombing and bring the problem to the conference table. Thant said "it is nationalism, and not communism, that animates the resistance movement in Vietnam against all foreigners and now particularly against the Americans." He declared the war cannot be ended until the US recognizes it as "a war of national independence" rather than one of communist aggression. (Washington Post, 31 July)
