After the 1968 Tet Offensive, the situation of the war in Vietnam had many changes. While present in the southern battlefield with the responsibility of Deputy Secretary of the Central Committee of the Southern Department, Comrade Le Duc Tho was urgently called by President Ho Chi Minh and the Central Committee to Hanoi to prepare to go to Paris to undertake the mission of fighting the war. Special consultation of the Delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, directly negotiating with the representative of the United States, on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.
On February 21, 1970, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam delegation including Advisor Le Duc Tho and Minister Xuan Thuy had an official contact with the US delegation including Kissinger, Richard Smyer - an expert on Vietnam and General V. Walters at No. 11, Rue Darthe, Choisy- le - Roi in the suburbs of Paris. This special contact exactly 52 years ago was the turning point to start the private, secret negotiations between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger afterwards.
The Chief negotiator of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was Foreign Minister Xuan Thuy at that time, but in fact, Mr. Le Duc Tho with the role of special adviser was the "soul" of the Vietnamese delegation, due to the position and tasks assigned directly by the Politburo and President Ho Chi Minh. Before the negotiating team left, President Ho Chi Minh warned: "Don't let the US be humiliated, don't offend the American people because Vietnam only fights with the warlike US rulers, in principle decisively does not give in, but the method is "invariant, improvised".
The Paris negotiations were really a battle of wits between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the US during the negotiation of the Paris Agreement, Vietnam was a small country with almost no experience in the diplomatic front. Compared to the US, it is a large country with potential not only militarily and diplomatically. Many times the American delegation has delayed or made unreasonable and unacceptable demands. However, Kissinger always had to admire and obey Le Duc Tho's strong arguments and arguments.
The special adviser of the American negotiating team is Dr. Henry Kissinger, a man who is considered the wise mind of the United States, but has to admit "rival" Le Duc Tho: "I can do better if I opposite on the negotiating table is not Mr. Le Duc Tho, negotiating with Mr. Tho is indeed a brainstorm!". And in fact, Advisor Le Duc Tho is a diplomat with a very clever strategic vision with the mindset of "just fighting and talking", resolute in principle, flexible in strategy, as a “Special advisor” of the Delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, through activities in public and secret negotiations, in press conferences, directing the “Press Release”, Adviser Le Duc Tho made an important contribution to making the progressive people in the world understand the senseless nature of the war caused by the US government in Vietnam.
From this first private contact, subsequent private, secret negotiations between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger followed. According to Mr. Trinh Ngoc Thai - former assistant head of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) delegation, there were a total of 36 separate meetings during the two- and four-party meetings and the substantive issues were discussed and resolved in these private meetings. However, in all secret negotiations with Special Advisor to the US President - Henry Kissinger or on the conference table, Special Advisor Le Duc Tho clearly stated the goodwill of the Vietnamese people to end the meeting. ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam, at the same time affirming the position of the Vietnamese people to resolutely fight for the goal of national independence and national reunification.
.jpg)
Minister Xuan Thuy and Special Advisor Le Duc Tho left a private meeting at the venue of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam delegation at 11 Rue Darthe. Source: https://congluan.vn/co-van-dac-biet-le-duc-tho-va-nhung-khoanh-khac-dang-nho-tai-paris-post160689.html
.jpg)
When the Paris Conference showed signs of increasing tension, on February 21, 1970, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) delegation including Advisor Le Duc Tho and Minister Xuan Thuy had an official contact with the American delegation including Kissinger, Richard Smyer - Vietnam expert and General V. Walters. After this contact, private and secret negotiations began between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger. Photo taken at the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
.jpg)
According to observers, in the Paris negotiations, private meetings between Mr. Le Duc Tho - advisor to the DRV delegation and Mr. Henry Kissinger - an adviser to the US delegation played a key decisive role. According to Mr. Trinh Ngoc Thai (former assistant chief of the DRV delegation at the Paris Conference), “a total of 36 separate meetings during the two and four-party meetings. Substantial issues are discussed and resolved in these private meetings.”
.jpg)
"The difficulty in diplomacy for negotiators is when to be "soft", when to be "hard", even when to speak harshly to the opponent. Mr. Le Duc Tho has succeeded in acting flexibly. this, making Kissinger respect…” - Former Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien acknowledged. Photo: Vietnam Agency News.
.jpg)
The historic handshake between Advisor Le Duc Tho and Advisor Henry Kissinger after signing the Paris Agreement. Photo: Washingtonpost.com