Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976

January 31, 1974, 0311Z

TELEGRAM
Department of State
020401

P 310311Z JAN 74 ZFF4

FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 4324

E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PBOR, MARR, MOPS, RP, CH

SUBJECT: POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SPRATLEY ISLANDS
EYES ONLY AMBASSADOR

1.

YOUR TEL 0998 PARA 5 RAISES FOUR ISSUES:

(A): LEGAL POSITION ON US OBLIGATION TO ACT IF PHL FORCES ARE ATTACKED IN SPRATLEYS; WE HAVE SENT STATE 017663 WHICH IS PARTIAL AND PRELIMINARY RESPONSE AND WE ARE STILL LOOKING INTO US POSITION.
(B): ASSURANCE TO YOU THAT US IS CONDUCTING SURVEILLANCE TO GUARD AGAINST SURPRISE ATTACK ON SPRATLEYS; THE HIGHEST APPROPRIATE LEVEL HERE HAS DECIDED THAT SUCH SURVEILLANCE WILL NOT RPT NOT BE UNDERTAKEN.
(C): YOU SUGGEST “DEMARCHE TO PEKING TO WARN CHINESE THAT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST PHL FORCES WOULD ENGAGE US OBLIGATIONS”; A NUMBER OF FACTORS RULE THIS OUT AT THIS TIME: THE LACK OF TIME: THE UNCERTAINTY OF US POSITION (A, ABOVE), LACK OF ANY INDICATIONS THAT PRC INTENDS TO MOVE AGAINST SPRATLEYS, AND OTHERS.
(D): YOUR REQUEST FOR AUTHORITY TO CONSULT WITH PHL OFFICIALS SHOULD, OBVIOUSLY, AWAIT FURTHER EXAMINATION OF POINT (A).

2.

WE WILL BE REPLYING IN LESS RESTRICTED CHANNEL ON POINTS OTHER THAN B AND C.

KISSINGER

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 558, Country Files, Far East, Philippines, 1 January 1974. Secret; Cherokee; Priority; Nodis; Eyes Only Ambassador. Drafted by Hummel; cleared by Lord and Scowcroft; and approved by Kissinger.↩
The Department conveyed the U.S. position regarding the Spratly Islands.↩