Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–13, Documents on China, 1969–1972

109. Message From the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government of the United States, undated¹ ²

undated

1. The Chinese side has no objection to the U.S. side disclosing the Paris channel on March 10 along the lines envisaged by the U.S. side. The Chinese Government will not make an announcement on this matter, but when asked, it will reply in the affirmative.

2. The Chinese side agrees to invite Mr. Hale Boggs, majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Mr. Gerald Ford, minority leader, to visit China. Their visit will be arranged to take place after the visit of Mr. Michael Mansfield and Mr. Hugh Scott. All the abovementioned leaders of the Senate and the House will be received as guests of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs. The letters of invitation will be transmitted later through the Paris channel as one of the earliest results of the functioning of that channel.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification indicated.
2. The message indicated Chinese acceptance of the disclosure of the Paris channel and discussed the visit of House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford.