0 - The Black Vault

THE BDM CORPORATION
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substantial amounts of military and economic aid to South Vietnam,
Congress would do nothing to e ....
and if
Iz, the threat of US military reinvolvement
should Hanoi violate the agreement.7/ These issues arc! mcre ful,y
explored in the section below dealing with congressional leaislation during
this periodm
2.. Commitmrnts Based on the US Interpretation of the Pay-is Oeace
Accords
While the Paris Peace Agreement of January 27, 1973, called for
the cessation of hostilities in South Vietnam and the withdrawal of all US
military personnel from the country, 8/ it also allowed the US a certain
degree of freedom and flexibility in fashioning its follow-on effort to
Sou'th Vietnam. Tne US government's interpretation -f the treaty allowed
for a certain degree of breadth in itc. follow-on suoport to the GVN and
with regards continued assistance to Laos and Camoodia. From the US
Derspe:tive, the treaty allowed for a number of prrvisions, including:9/
4 The continuation of US air operations over Cambodia and Laos
until such time as a cease-fire and troop-withdrawal arrangements
had been concluded for these countries between those parties
invo!ved. No particular timetable was sticulated by the
Accords.
• ThE transfer of US armaments, munitions, and war material to
South Vietnam pyior to the Agreement's entry into force; no
transfer was allowed subseouznt to this point in time. The
treaty did not, however,
stj',.ulzte whether the critical act was
transfer of title or transfe- of possession. The US viewed this
provision to mean the transfer of title, the-eby al'owing for the
transfer of US
entered into force,
equipment to South Vietnam after the Agreement had
* While all US military personnel were to be withdrawn 4rom South
Vietnam wit.iin 60 days from the time the Treaty came intc force,
US civilian advisers attached to military units or concerned with
of military equipment could remain in-
supply or maintenance
rountry.
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