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Q. In ordering the evacuation, to what extent were you responding exclusively to the military situation & to what extent were yon responding either to a request by "Big" Minh for all Americans to get out or to your own feeling that a total evacuation might facilitate a political settlement?
Secretary Kissinger: When the President ordered total evacuation, it was done on the basis that Tan Son Nhut Airport had already been closed & that therefore the American personnel in Saigon -& there were 45 in the province - might soon become hostage to the approaching Communist forces. The order to evacuate was made before any request had been received from General Minh, & the principal, indeed the only reason was to guarantee the safety of the remaining Americans.
20:44:58 Q. Mr. Secretary, there was a report last night that the Communists were backing away from the airport, the rockets seemed to be moving back. Was that a direct result of negotiations and were they prepared to let us move refugees out or Americans out on fixed-wing aircraft?
Secretary Kissinger: I don't know that particular report, but the shelling stopped about 9 p.m., last night. We could not operate fixed-wing aircraft, because the control at the airport broke down. And it was at this point that the President decided that w/ Communist forces approaching on all sides & w/ the airport being closed that we had to go to helicopter evacuation.
20:45:50 Q. Mr. Secretary, there is a report in New York that last week you sent a further request for the good offices of the Council of Ministers of the Nine, the European Communities.
Secretary Kissinger: We did not approach the Nine last week.
Q. Mr. Secretary, do you see any possibility of a negotiated settlement, and also with respect to that, what can & should the South Vietnamese Government do now?
Secretary Kissinger: I have already pointed out that the Communist demands have been escalating literally w/ every passing day, that as soon as one demand is met, an additional demand is put forward. So, we should have no illusions about what the Communist side is aiming for. The South Vietnamese, as far as I can tell, have met every demand that has so far been put forward on the radio. There have not been any direct negotiations w/ which I am familiar. What is attainable in the transfer of power that would preserve a vestige of other forces than the Communist forces, that remains to be seen.
Thank you Mr. Secretary.
Vietnam War End; Saigon Evacuation; Secretary of State; 29Apr75; 1975;
NOTE: Up to any continuous 24 minutes of 20:00:00 - 20:47:26 sold at per reel rate.
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NOTE: FOR ORDERING See: www.footagefarm.co.uk or contact us at: Info@Footagefarm.co.uk Q. In ordering the evacuation, to what extent were you responding exclusively to the military situation & to what extent were yon responding either to a request by "Big" Minh for all Americans to get out or to your own feeling that a total evacuation might facilitate a political settlement? Secretary Kissinger: When the President ordered total evacuation, it was done on the basis that Tan Son Nhut Airport had already been closed & that therefore the American personnel in Saigon -& there were 45 in the province - might soon become hostage to the approaching Communist forces. The order to evacuate was made before any request had been received from General Minh, & the principal, indeed the only reason was to guarantee the safety of the remaining Americans. 20:44:58 Q. Mr. Secretary, there was a report last night that the Communists were backing away from the airport, the rockets seemed to be moving back. Was that a direct result of negotiations and were they prepared to let us move refugees out or Americans out on fixed-wing aircraft? Secretary Kissinger: I don't know that particular report, but the shelling stopped about 9 p.m., last night. We could not operate fixed-wing aircraft, because the control at the airport broke down. And it was at this point that the President decided that w/ Communist forces approaching on all sides & w/ the airport being closed that we had to go to helicopter evacuation. 20:45:50 Q. Mr. Secretary, there is a report in New York that last week you sent a further request for the good offices of the Council of Ministers of the Nine, the European Communities. Secretary Kissinger: We did not approach the Nine last week. Q. Mr. Secretary, do you see any possibility of a negotiated settlement, and also with respect to that, what can & should the South Vietnamese Government do now? Secretary Kissinger: I have already pointed out that the Communist demands have been escalating literally w/ every passing day, that as soon as one demand is met, an additional demand is put forward. So, we should have no illusions about what the Communist side is aiming for. The South Vietnamese, as far as I can tell, have met every demand that has so far been put forward on the radio. There have not been any direct negotiations w/ which I am familiar. What is attainable in the transfer of power that would preserve a vestige of other forces than the Communist forces, that remains to be seen. Thank you Mr. Secretary. Vietnam War End; Saigon Evacuation; Secretary of State; 29Apr75; 1975; NOTE: Up to any continuous 24 minutes of 20:00:00 - 20:47:26 sold at per reel rate. NOTE: FOR ORDERING See: www.footagefarm.co.uk or contact us at: Info@Footagefarm.co.uk