Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969–1972

335. Message for the Government of the People’s Republic of China¹ ²

Beijing, undated

The President wishes to call the attention of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the following matters:

The U.S. Government has not replied formally to the Soviet proposal for a conference of the five nuclear powers. It is transmitting an oral comment to the Soviet Foreign Ministry through the U.S. Ambassador in Moscow along these lines:

The subject of nuclear disarmament is worthy of serious consideration. A conference would require careful preparation and agreement among the five powers as to what subjects were feasible for discussion. The views of non-nuclear states should be considered. All five powers must be willing to attend.

It is not anticipated that a formal reply will be made.

[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to the Five-Power Conference]

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, Files for the President, China, Lord-China, China Exchanges July–Oct 20, 1971. No classification marking. The message was transmitted by Haig to Major General Vernon Walters, Senior Military Attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Paris, under cover of an August 5 letter instructing Walters to hand the message to the PRC ambassador. (Ibid.)
2. The President called the PRC’s attention to the U.S. Government’s message to the Soviet Government transmitted in Telegram 14133 to Moscow (Document 334).