Title

Sunflower

Start Date

1/5/1967

End Date

2/15/1967

Objective

to negotiate peace with North Vietnam

Description

This was a peace initiative following MARIGOLD's failure. In a direct approach to Ha Noi through the DRV embassy in Moscow, along with a coinciding attempt by British Prime Minister Wilson, the U.S. and Ha Noi attempted to conduct negotiations. However, the U.S. would accept nothing less than mutual de-escalation and Ha Noi refused to talk unless all U.S. acts of war were halted first. The negotiations in Moscow ended 15 February. Meanwhile in England, Wilson argued for peace with Soviet Premeir Kosygin and presented the U.S. position without permission. This, along with further U.S. errors in negotiating doomed these talks, hurt American-British relations, and confused the USSR and DRV. During SUNFLOWER, both the DRV and the U.S. grew more rigid in their demands.