Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–13, Documents on China, 1969–1972

13. Letter From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the Military Attaché at the Embassy in France (Walters), Washington, August 5, 1971¹ ²

Washington, August 5, 1971

August 5, 1971

Major General Vernon Walters

Senior Military Attache

American Embassy

Paris, France

Dear Vernon:

As part of this package, our courier will hand you two messages—one for the PRC Ambassador which you should deliver in written form (Tab A) and the second (Tab B) which you should read to the North Vietnamese representative, leaving no copy. We are most anxious that the messages be delivered on Friday.

At Tab C is the game plan for the next round which is in memorandum form and which includes the planning details which you will need, less aircraft numbers and types. I will provide that information to you telephonically. You will note that we have changed the major arrival and departure fields to assist in maintaining cover. The rest of the details follow the standard pattern. As of this writing, there will be no side meetings during the next round.

You may wish to raise with Henry your return visit. Dependent on the outcome of the next session, I believe the circumstances are fortuitous.

Thank you again for your invaluable contributions which have proved so successful up to now. You will note that in his press conference yesterday, the President may have inadvertently added to the specification that secret meetings are being conducted. His comments will further complicate your already difficult task.

Best wishes,

Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

Brigadier General, U.S. Army

Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

Enclosures

[Tab A]

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.

[Tab B]

Despite press speculations, the President will maintain strictly and scrupulously the secrecy of the Le Duc Tho/Xuan Thuy - Kissinger channel. He expects the DRV Delegation to do the same.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, July 1971-Oct 20, 1971. Top Secret; Sensitive. Attached at Tab A and B are two of the notes. Attached but not published at Tab C is the memorandum containing logistical details about the trip.
2. Haig instructed Walters about the delivery of a written message to the PRC Ambassador and an oral message to the North Vietnamese representative. Haig indicated that a third message contained information about the President’s trip to China.