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

8. Backchannel Message SITTO 88/WH 12696 From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), July 11, 1971, 1920Z¹ ²

July 11, 1971, 1920Z

TO

• HENRY A. KISSINGER IN AIRCRAFT

FROM

• GENERAL HAIG

REFERENCE

• TOSIT 26

00 AFBAH

DE WTE 1796 19211926

1971 JUL 11 2112

O 111920Z JUL 71

FM GENERAL HAIG

TO

• HENRY A. KISSINGER

ZEM

JULY 11, 1971

SIT TO 88

1. LEADER HAS ASKED THAT I CONVEY FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO YOU: “YOU REPORTED CONVERSATIONS WERE THE MOST INTENSIVE, IMPORTANT AND FAR-REACHING OF YOUR WHITE HOUSE EXPERIENCE. IF WE PLAY THE GAME UP TO THE HILT FROM NOW ON OUT, HISTORY WILL RECORD YOUR VISIT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN POLICY ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS CENTURY. WHEN YOU RETURN, I PLAN TO GIVE YOU A DAY OFF IN COMPENSATION FOR YOUR SUPERB SERVICE TO THE NATION—FAR BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. PLEASE EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO THE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF WHOSE SUPERB EFFORTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACHIEVEMENT.”

2. LEADER HAS ASKED THAT YOU PREPARE HIGHLY SANITIZED VERSION OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS WHICH CAN BE GIVEN TO HIS GUEST AFTER YOU ARRIVE. LEADER WANTS YOU TO KNOW, THAT GUEST IS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE ENTERPRISE AND HAS BEEN STRONGLY ADMONISHED THAT HE CAN SHARE KNOWLEDGE OF FACT OF ENTERPRISE WITH NO ONE LEADER INDICATES THAT HE IS THINKING OF HAVING GUEST MEET YOU AT EL TORO TUESDAY A.M. AND ACCOMPANY YOU DIRECTLY TO A MEETING WITH LEADER RECOGNIZING THAT HOUR WILL BE EARLY HERE. AT THIS MEETING YOUR SANITIZED REPORT WOULD BE GIVEN. YOU WOULD THEN MEET WITH LEADER PRIVATELY FOR DETAILED EXCHANGE.

3. LEADER WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT NO ONE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HALDEMAN, HIS GUEST, AND HIMSELF ARE AWARE OF THE EVENT AND HE INTENDS TO KEEP IT THAT WAY UNTIL THE VERY LAST MINUTE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE “MESSENGER”, LEADER BELIEVES IT WOULD BE WELL TO HAVE GUEST INFORM CERTAIN ALLIED GOVERNMENTS AT VERY LAST MINUTE BEFORE PRESENTATION OF COMMUNIQUE. LEADER BELIEVES IT ESSENTIAL THAT HE PERSONALLY DELIVER COMMUNIQUE ON TV WITH SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENT. I HAVE WARNED HIM THAT THERE MAY BE SOME ARRANGEMENT WITH YOUR HOST WHICH WOULD RESTRICT PRESENTATION ONLY TO COMMUNIQUE.

4. AS A RELATED MATTER LEADER NOW BELIEVES IT ESSENTIAL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION MAKE A STRONG STATEMENT ON SOUTH VIETNAM, LAOS AND CAMBODIA AND THE NEED FOR NOT ABANDONING ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING U.S. INTERESTS MERELY IN RETURN FOR RELIEF OF POW’S. HE BELIEVES IT WOuLD BE ADVISABLE TO HAVE HIS GUEST IN THE FOREFRONT AND HAS TOLD HIM TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE A TOUGH SPEECH ALONG THESE AT BAR ASSOCIATION MEETING IN LONDON ON JULY 19. I EMPHASIZED TO LEADER THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE SPEECH BE CLEARED WITH YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH HOST AND HE AGREES COMPLETELY.

5. LEADER ALSO WISHES TO CALL YOU ON OPEN TELEPHONE LINE AT AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE JUST PRIOR TO YOUR LUNCHEON AND BEFORE YOUR AFTERNOON SESSION. RECOGNIZING THAT DISCUSSION WITH YOU MAY BE TAPPED BY HOST GOVERNENT, HE WILL SPEAK IN STRONG TERMS ABOUT NEED TO CUT OFF TALKS BARRING NO PROGRESS AND HINT AT OTHER SOLUTIONS IF THE OTHER SIDE DOES NOT NEGOTIATE SERIOUSLY. WE PLAN TO PLACE THE CALL AT 12 NOON PARIS TIME (4 A.M. SAN CLEMENTE TIME JULY 12). PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS TIME DOES NOT APPEAR APPROPRIATE.

6. THANKS FOR TOSIT 59. WE WILL CONVEY INSTRUCTIONS TO SMITH BOTH IN STATE AND BACKCHANNEL.

7. I WILL BE AT EL TORO ON TUESDAY AM; HOWEVER, YOU MAY WISH TO CALL ME FROM PARIS OR HAVE WIN DO SO TO BE SURE THAT I HAVE YOUR THINKING ON ESSENTIAL ISSUES AND THUS BE BETTER ABLE TO CONTROL FLOW OF EVENTS HERE.

8. LEADER IS EXTREMELY ENTHUSIASTIC AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OBVIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT. EMPHASIS ON SECURITY WILL LIMIT IDEA MONGERING TO LEADER AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF SINCE HIS GUEST IS AT LAKE TAHOE AND WILL NOT RETURN UNTIL LATE SUNDAY. LEADER HAS ASSURED ME HE WILL NOT SHARE ANY FURTHER DETAILS WITH GUEST. HE ALSO RECOMMENDS YOU NOT SEND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SUBJECT BY ANY ELECTRONIC MEANS BUT HOLD ON FURTHER REPORTING UNTIL YOU ARRIVE HERE. BEST REGARDS.

650

1796

1. Source: Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 432, Backchannel Files, Backchannel Messages, Very Sensitive Trip Cables-Not Held by Sit Room. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.
2. Haig communicated President Nixon’s commentes regarding Kissinger’s earlier message. The President instructed Kissinger to prepare a highly sanitized version of discussions. Nixon noted that “certain allied governments” would be informed of the visit prior to his announcement of it on national television.