North Vietnam peace proposal (1971)

In late June 1971 the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) made the following peace proposal, one of several made by both sides during the Vietnam War. This Vietnam peace proposal was subsequently rejected by Washington:

“1. The withdrawal of all the forces of the United States and of the other foreign countries in the US camp [from] South Vietnam and the other Indochinese countries must be achieved in 1971.

2. The release of all military men and civilians captured in the war will be carried out at the same time and will be completed at the same moment as the withdrawal of troops mentioned in Point 1.

3. In South Vietnam, the United States ceases supporting Thieu Ky Khiem to allow the formation in Saigon of a new administration, standing for peace, independence, neutrality and democracy. The PRGRSV will engage in talks with the said administration with a view to settling the internal affairs of South Vietnam and achieving national unity.

4. The US Government must assume entire responsibility for the damage caused by the United States to the Vietnamese people. The DRV Government and the PRGRSV request from the US Government reparations for damage caused by the United States in both zones of Vietnam.

5. The United States must acknowledge and respect the 1954 Geneva Agreements on Vietnam and Indochina, and those of 1962 on Laos. It must cease its aggression and intervention in Indochinese countries and allow the Indochinese people to settle their own affairs.

6. Problems existing between the Indochinese countries will be settled by the Indochinese parties on the basis of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for non-interference on internal affairs. For its part, the DRV is prepared to participate in the settlement of these problems.

7. All parties will observe a ceasefire after the conclusion of agreements of the aforementioned problems.

8. An international supervision [committee] will be set up.

9. An international guarantee will be indispensable for the realisation of the basic national rights of the Indochinese people, for the neutrality of South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and for the establishment of a lasting peace in this region.”