Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971–May 1972

132. Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, April 20, 1972, 0223Z.

Sitto 11. I have reviewed with the President your WTE 10 004² in which you discuss in greater detail the President’s instructions.³ He would have no difficulty concerning your caveat. His main concern, as you know, is that no arrangement is accepted which would be interpreted as a sharp disappointment by his supporters, which is also of course the main thrust of his memorandum to you. He is completely comfortable with your proposed approach and is most anxious to have an early report on the outcome of your first substantive discussions.

Paragraph 2 of reference message looks most encouraging and you must know that you have our full confidence as well as our ardent prayers for the tasks at hand.

I am sending a separate message with draft communications and game plan for all parties concerned.⁴

Warm regards.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 21, HAK’s Secret Moscow Trip Apr 72, TOHAK/HAKTO File [2 of 2]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. This and subsequent messages from Haig were transmitted via the White House Situation Room to the Presidential airplane at the airport outside Moscow.
2. Document 130.
3. Document 127.
4. In a subsequent message Haig outlined “a game plan” for transmitting news both of Kissinger’s trip to Moscow and of the resumption of peace talks on Vietnam to the North Vietnamese and Porter (Paris); Thieu and Bunker (Saigon); Pompidou and Brandt. (Telegram Sitto 12, April 21; National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 21, HAK’s Secret Moscow Trip Apr 72, TOHAK/HAKTO File [2 of 2])