Documents on China, 1969–1972
91. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 22, 1972, 2 p.m.
Topics discussed at the first counterpart meeting between Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P’eng-fei included normalization of relations, people-to-people exchanges, trade expansion, and Most Favored Nation status.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret;Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Nicholas Platt and approved in S on February 28. The meeting was held in the Sinkiang Room, Great Hall of the People. The third, fourth, and fifth counterpart meetings are published as Documents 94, 101, and 107. Part II is Document 198, Foreign Relations, 1969–1972, volume XVII, China, 1969–1972.
92. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing February 23, 1972, 9:35 a.m.-12:34 p.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch’iao Kuan-hua discussed the communiqué, confidential information on Soviet conventional and strategic weaponry, and the current status of U.S.-Soviet negotiations.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, President’s Trip, Feb 1972, HAK Conversations. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. Ellipses in the source text. Also present on the Chinese side was Yeh Chien-ying, Vice Chairman of the Military Commission. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2. Tabs A-C are attached but not published.
93. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 24, 1972, 9:59 a.m.-12:42 p.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch’iao Kuan-hua continued to discuss the communiqué. Kissinger informed Ch’iao that the U.S. Ambassador to France, a close friend of President Nixon’s, would replace Walters and maintain the secret Paris channel.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.
94. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 24, 1972, 3 p.m.
During the third counterpart meeting between Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P’eng-fei, Chi attributed the “lack of tranquility” in the world to U.S. post-World War II policies and Soviet intervention. He stressed that easing international tensions required respect for the five principles of peaceful co-existence. Rogers, in turn, provided a different version of the world situation. The two officials also discussed Vietnam and Cambodia.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret;Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Calvin Mehlert and approved in S on March 3. Copies were sent to S, U, J, EA, S/S, and Kissinger. The meeting was held in the Sinkiang Room, Great Hall of the People. Eliot sent the memorandum to Rogers under a March 3 covering note. Rogers subsequently approved the memorandum.
95. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 24, 1972, 3:30-3:45 p.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chi’iao Kuan-hua discussed aspects of the communiqué, specifically the wording concerning the relationship between Taiwan and China.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.
96. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 12:50-1:15 a.m.
Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch’iao Kuan-hua and President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger continued to debate the semantics of the communiqué as they applied to Taiwan.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2, Beijing.
97. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 9:34-10:58 a.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch’iao Kuan-hua returned to the issue of the specific wording of U.S. withdrawal of forces from Taiwan.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. Brackets and ellipses in the source text. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.
98. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 2:35-2:45 p.m.
Discussions resumed on the Taiwan portions of the communiqué.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.
99. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 3:35-4 p.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger resisted the phrase “final withdrawal” in relation to Taiwan because it would appear that the administration had made too many concessions to China.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.
100. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 4:50-5:25 p.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger thanked Chinese Premier Chou En-lai for agreeing to language on Taiwan that would help President Nixon mollify his domestic critics.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.
101. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 5:45 p.m.
Topics discussed at the fourth counterpart meeting between Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P’eng-fei included contacts and communication, U.S. and PRC commitments to public welfare, and Thailand.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Platt and approved in S on March 8. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, EA, and Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the Guest House.
102. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25-26 1972, 10:30 p.m.-1:40 a.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch’iao finalized the communiqué wording concerning Taiwan, discussed specifics on the development of trade relations, and considered editorial changes to the section on Vietnam.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. Brackets in the source text. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.
103. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 26, 1972
President Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai both agreed that common ground had been achieved, even though differences in principles existed. Secretary of State Rogers added that the discussions “helped clear up a number of misunderstandings,” noting that fast and frequent communications aid in this process. Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P’eng-fei concurred, highlighting areas of agreement concerning trade relations and people-to-people exchanges. Nixon termed the visit “the story of the century.”
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 91, Country Files, Far East, China, Memoranda of Conversation Between Secretary Rogers and PRC Officials, February 1972. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Alfred Jenkins and approved in S on March 10. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, E, and to Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the VIP Lounge of the Beijing Airport prior to the parties’ departure to Hangchow. The precise time of the meeting is not indicated on the memorandum.
104. Memorandum of Conversation, Hangchow, February 26-27, 1972, 10:20 p.m.-1:40 a.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger informed Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch’iao Kuan-hua that Secretary of State Rogers had suggested three minor changes to the Taiwan portion of the communiqué. Ch’iao refused to agree to the changes on Taiwan since both President Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai had already accepted the wording on February 26.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. Ellipses in the source text. The meeting was held at the Hangchow Hotel.
105. Memorandum of Conversation, Shanghai, February 27, 1972
Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai briefly discussed how both President Nixon and Chairman of the Communist Party of China Mao Tse-tung had overcome, but would continue to face, domestic opposition in order to continue the normalization process.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Platt and approved in S on March 8. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, EA, and Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the Guest House Hotel, Shanghai. The time of the meeting is not indicated on the memorandum.
106. Memorandum of Conversation, Shanghai, February 27, 1972, 11:30 a.m.-1:55 p.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch’iao Kuan-hua made a few minor stylistic changes to the communiqué and agreed that the Paris channel would remain open as the normalization process continued.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. Ellipses in the source text. The meeting was held at the Guest House Hotel.
107. Memorandum of Conversation, Shanghai, February 28, 1972, 8:45 a.m.
During their fifth counterpart meeting, Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P’eng-fei agreed to gradually strengthen relations in the areas of communications, sports, cultural, and scientific exchanges.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Platt and approved in S on March 10. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, EA, and Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the Guest House Hotel.
108. Message From the Government of the United States to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Washington, March 3, 1972
The message informed PRC officials that the U.S. Government proposed to announce Paris as the “public contact point” for communication between the two nations. It also described the nature of a conversation between President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Soviet Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Dobrynin, and thanked the Chinese for inviting two U.S. senators to visit China.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the message. A typed notation on the message indicates that Peter Rodman of the National Security Council staff delivered the message to Shih Yen-hua, a member of the PRC delegation to the UN.
109. Message From the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government of the United States, undated
The message indicated Chinese acceptance of the disclosure of the Paris channel and discussed the visit of House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification indicated.
110. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, March 6, 1972, 7:15-8:20 p.m.
Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Huang Hua raised several subjects with Commander Howe including the Chinese agreement to disclosure of the Paris channel, invitations to House Majority Leader Hale Boggs (D-Louisiana) and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford (R-Michigan) to visit China, security issues surrounding the death of a member of the Chinese delegation from nicotine poisoning-which the Chinese believed to be caused by foul play-and the problem of securing adequate facilities for the Chinese mission to the UN. He appealed for President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger’s assistance in the ensuing investigation by the New York Police Department.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Transmitted by Haig to Kissinger under a March 7 covering note. Attached is a message from the Chinese Government discussing the prospective visit of Boggs and Ford; Document 109. Howe indicates that the meeting was held at “our special meeting place in New York City.” For additional information about the death of the delegation member, see Documents 113 and 114.
111. Letters From President Nixon to the Chairman of the Communist Party of China Mao Tse-tung and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, Washington, March 14, 1972
Kissinger transmitted two letters to Nixon with the recommendation that he sign the letters.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 525, Country Files, Far East, PRC, Vol. III, Jan-Mar 1972. No classification marking. Kissinger’s covering memorandum, sent for action, is dated March 10 and indicates that Ray Price cleared the letters. A notation on memorandum indicates that Nixon saw it. A handwritten note from Nixon reads: “K-where an occasion justifies it-see that I write Chou from time to time.” The letters are published from copies that bear Nixon’s handwritten signature.
112. Message From the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government of the United States, undated
In reference to President Nixon’s proclamation of March 26-April 1, 1972, as a “national week of concern for prisoners of war,” and the U.S. bombing campaign in North Vietnam, Chinese officials indicated that the U.S. Government would not obtain the release of U.S. prisoners of war unless the United States accepted the seven point proposal offered by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam delegates to the Paris Peace talks.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification indicated. A notation on the memorandum indicates Nixon saw it. Attached to the March 24 memorandum of conversation; Document 114.
113. Airgram A-925 From the Delegation to the United Nations to the Department of State, June 19, 1972
Ambassador to the United Nations Bush recounted that he had informed Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua that he was personally satisfied that the New York Police Department had explored all angles of the death of the Chinese delegate and had been assured that the case would remain open.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 17 CHICOM-US. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Harry E. T. Thayer on June 8 and cleared by Joseph Glennon and Bush. Received at the Department of State on June 21.
114. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, March 14, 1972, 4:40-6 p.m.
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger assured Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Huang Hua that the White House had taken a “direct interest” in aiding in the investigation of the death of the Chinese delegate, explained that the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, George H.W. Bush, would not be privy to their conversations, and reported on his recent conversations with Soviet Ambassador to the United States Dobrynin concerning China. The attached message from the Government of the People’s Republic of China stressed that the United States must end its bombing campaign against North Vietnam.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The precise location of the meeting is not indicated. Ellipses in the source text. Lord sent the memorandum to Kissinger under a March 18 covering memorandum, on which he had written “Thru Haig.” Kissinger wrote: “OK HK” on the covering memorandum. Tabs A-C are attached but not published. Tab D, the attached message, has no classification marking. A notation on the message indicates the President saw it. It is published as Document 112.
115. Telegram 5316 From the Embassy in France to the Department of State, March 20, 1972, 1612Z
Ambassador to France Watson recounted his March 20 meeting with Chinese Ambassador to France Huang Chen. The two officials discussed the upcoming visit of the PRC Table Tennis team to the United States. Huang requested that the U.S. Government refuse entry to a Taiwanese table tennis group.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL CHICOM-US. Secret; Nodis; Homer; Immediate. Received in the Department of State at 12:49 p.m. Telegrams 46040, 47029, and 42369 to Paris are ibid.
116. Memorandum for the Record, Paris, March 5, 1972
Military Attaché Walters and Chinese Ambassador to France Huang Chen reflected on the role that they had played in the normalization process.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Walters on March 23. A notation on the memorandum reads: “C-exchange.” The meeting was held at Chen’s residence in Neuilly.
117. Telegram 625 From the Embassy in France to the White House, March 13, 1972, 1219Z
Ambassador to France Watson asked how he should handle press inquiries about his talks with the Chinese.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1037, Files for the President-China Material, China, March 10, 1972-April 1973. Secret; Eyes Only. Sent to the White House eyes only for Kissinger. A handwritten notation on the telegram reads: “HAK, Haig, Lord.”
118. Telegram 626 From the Embassy in France to the White House, March 13, 1972, 1219Z
Ambassador to France Watson informed President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger of his first meeting with Chinese Ambassador to France Huang Chen and relayed Huang’s relief that their talks in the future would only be shared with Kissinger and President Nixon.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1037, Files for the President-China Material, China, March 10, 1972-April 1973. Secret; Eyes Only. Sent to the White House eyes only for Kissinger. A handwritten notation on the telegram reads: “HAK, Haig, Lord.”
119. Memorandum From Winston Lord of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), New York, April 3, 1972
Lord met informally with Shih Yen-hua of the Chinese Mission to the UN and communicated President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger’s belief that there was “no policy he believed in more than improving relations with the People’s Republic of China.” The undated message references several points raised by the United States in the April 3 message.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the new quarters for the PRC Mission, located near Lincoln Center. The precise time of the meeting is not indicated. The United States message that Lord delivered is printed as Document 219, Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XVII.
120. Memorandum of Conversation, New York, March 24, 1972, 6:05-7:05 p.m.
Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Huang Hua protested that on two occasions the U.S. military had violated Chinese territorial waters and Chinese airspace. The President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig responded that he was unaware of such incursions and promised to investigate the allegations. Huang and Haig also discussed several minor administrative matters, including the Chinese Mission’s new quarters, adequate security measures, and the upcoming visit of the PRC Table Tennis team.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Ellipsis in the source text. The precise location of the meeting is not indicated.