Peace Talks Stall

Peace negotiations in Paris break down as South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu refuses to consent to the terms of the draft agreement made by negotiators in October. Seeing it as being unable to prevent a resumption of conflict after U.S. withdrawal, President Thieu presents 69 points requiring renegotiation for South Vietnamese cooperation. While initially successful in incorporating some of Thieu’s points, negotiators reach an impasse over the disposition of the Demilitarized Zone and the withdrawal of North Vietnamese military personnel from South Vietnam.

Displeased with the concessions made, the North Vietnamese propose additions of their own—such as the withdrawal of American civilians from South Vietnam—while demanding a return to the pre-Thieu October proposal. With talks at a standstill, President Nixon and National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger discuss a resumption of Operation LINEBACKER as early as November 23, 1972. They intend to follow it with an ultimatum: if South Vietnam refuses to support the peace agreement, the U.S. will make one without them. ¹