Discussion between Liu Shaoqi and Le Duan

LIU SHAOQI AND LE DUAN

Beijing, 8 April 1965^[1]

Le Duan: We want some volunteer pilots, volunteers soldiers…and other volunteers, including road and bridge engineering units.

Liu Shaoqi: It is our policy that we will do our best to support you.  We will offer whatever you are in need of and we are in a position to offer…If you do not invite us, we will not come; and if you invite one unit of our troops, we will send that unit to you.  The initiative will be completely yours.

Le Duan: We want the Chinese volunteer pilots to play a role in four respects: (1) to restrict American bombing to areas south of the 20^th or 19^th parallels; (2) to defend the safety of Hanoi; (3) to defend several main transportation lines; and (4) to raise the morale of the Vietnamese people.

^{[1] The same day as the DRV issued its four point peace formula in response to President Johnson’s declared readiness for “unconditional discussions.”}