175. Backchannel Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to William Hood, December 30, 1972, 0420Z1 2
FROM:
- GENERAL HAIG
TO:
- HOOD
ZCZCSW006
300420Z
ZEM
VIA SWINGER
DECEMBER 29, 1972
TO: HOOD
FROM: GENERAL HAIG
CITE: SW0006
PLEASE DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE AT 11:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1972:
BEGIN TEXT: THE U.S. SIDE HAS RECEIVED THE CHINESE MESSAGE CONCERNING THE IMPACT OF A U.S. MISSILE ON CHINESE TERRITORY. THE U.S. SIDE REGRETS THAT SUCH AN INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED. THE U.S. CONTINUES TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO GUARD AGAINST INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE. A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN LAUNCHED. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE INCIDENT RESULTED FROM U.S. ACTIONS, APPROPRIATE MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO INSURE AGAINST A RECURRENCE. IN ANY EVENT, THE U.S. SIDE HOPES THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS NOW STARTING WILL MAKE THIS ISSUE MOOT. END TEXT.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 850, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, Oct 24, 1972-Dec 31, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only via Swinger. Haig dated the message December 29, although the message was not transmitted to Hood until December 30. It was received in the White House Situation Room at 10:01 a.m. on December 30.↩
- Haig instructed Hood to inform the Chinese that the U.S. regretted the missile incident.↩