169. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1
SUBJECT
- USIA Film on Chinese Communist Subjugation of Tibet
Last year USIA produced a film on the Chinese Communist subjugation of Tibet entitled “Man from a Missing Land,” which Mr. Shakespeare planned to release last September. The film was to be distributed worldwide through USIA offices in each country. Although there had been virtually no reference to Tibet in USIA output for some years, Mr. Shakespeare held that, because Peking continued to attack the Administration (actually Peking had modified its polemics significantly after the advent of ping pong diplomacy), “it makes little sense for the U.S. to refrain from attempting to focus the attention of the world’s peoples on the nature and historical acts of the men in power in Peking. If the Peking Government continues to believe that it is to their advan [Page 435] tage to have talks with our leaders, they will do so. If they should decide that it is not to their advantage, we may be sure they will not lack for a pretext to suspend the talks” (Tab B).2
At my insistence, Mr. Shakespeare agreed to withhold distribution indefinitely.
In early January, Mr. Shakespeare informed us he had submitted the film to the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, and Sciences for the Academy Award competition (Tab C).3 The first and second stages of the competition were to have been held in February and March, with the final round set for May. Again at my request, Mr. Shakespeare agreed to withhold the film from the competitions until after the Moscow summit.
I believe we should now inform Mr. Shakespeare that the film should be permanently withheld from distribution or screening through USIA or any other channel. As you know, the PRC toned down its attacks on your Administration (they had very largely refrained from direct attacks on you personally since last spring) during your visit to China, and they have turned the volume and content up again only somewhat since your visit. Peking’s current propaganda attacks against the U.S. Government thus are considerably below what they were only a year ago. Distribution of this USIA attack on PRC rule in Tibet would therefore clearly not be to our advantage. There is the risk of press play for this in-house difference of opinion (the New York Times is aware of the film’s existence),4 but I think this problem is much smaller and more manageable than those that would certainly result in our relations with Peking if it were released.
At Tab A5 is a memorandum that I propose sending on your behalf to Mr. Shakespeare directing that this film not be distributed or screened in any way.
RECOMMENDATION:
That you approve my sending the memorandum to Mr. Shakespeare at Tab A.6
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 295, Agency Files, USIA—Vol. IV—1972 [Jan–Oct 1972] [2 of 2]. Secret. Sent for action. Printed from an unsigned and uninitialed copy. Holdridge sent the memorandum to Kissinger under an April 3 memorandum, recommending that Kissinger sign the draft memorandum to Nixon. At the bottom of the memorandum, Haig wrote: “Just tell USIA NO. Don’t put in writing. If you need help I’ll do it. Al.” (Ibid.)↩
- Not found attached. Tab B is an August 12, 1971, memorandum from Shakespeare to Kissinger, printed as an attachment to Document 147.↩
- Not found attached. The memorandum is referenced in a January 12, 1972, memorandum from Holdridge to Kissinger (see Document 158), a copy of which is attached at Tab C.↩
- See footnote 5, Document 158.↩
- Attached but not printed is the draft memorandum. In it, Kissinger noted that the film had come to the President’s attention and that it was “a superb work of film art technically.” However, due to the impact the film might have on U.S.–PRC relations, Kissinger requested that Shakespeare “withhold this film permanently from distribution or screening either abroad or in the United States.”↩
- The President neither approved nor disapproved the recommendation.↩