June–December 1978


117. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 56, Policy Process: 6–9/78. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Thayer. The meeting took place in the UN Plaza Hotel.


118. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Gleysteen) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 29, Brzezinski 5/78 Trip to China: 6/1–6/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only.


119. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Geographic File, Box 9, China (People’s Republic of), Normalization, 1/24/78–11/10/78. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Printed from a copy that does not bear Vance’s initials. At the top of the first page, Carter wrote, “Cy—no copies, no distribution. J.” Vance’s June 13 covering memorandum to the President reads, “I hope we can meet next week to discuss specific instructions for Leonard Woodcock as outlined in the attached memorandum, and the political, strategic and diplomatic implications of normalization. I suggest that the Vice President, Zbig, Harold Brown, Ham Jordan, Dick Holbrooke and Mike Oksenberg also participate.” An unknown person crossed out the names of Jordan, Holbrooke, and Oksenberg. (Ibid.)


120. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Geographic File, Box 9, China (People’s Republic of), Normalization, 1/24/78–11/10/78. Secret; Sensitive. At the top of the page, Carter wrote, “Zbig—no copies. J.”


121. Telegram From the Liaison Office in China to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840150–2594. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Stadis.


122. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 56, Policy Process: 6–9/78. Secret. The meeting took place at the White House. A shorter version of this memorandum of conversation, focusing only on the aspects relating to U.S. arms sales to the ROC, bears a “C” at the top of the page, indicating that the President saw it. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 50, Chron: 6/78)


124. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Holbrooke) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 26, Brownell (Herbert) Study: 6–10/78. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Drafted by Feldman on June 24. Former Attorney General Herbert Brownell was advising the Department of State on the legal issues surrounding the normalization of relations with the People’s Republic of China.


125. Intelligence Assessment Prepared in the National Foreign Assessment Center, Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Unfiled Files, Box 127, [China] 4/75–1/81. Secret.


126. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 41, Weekly Report [to the President], 61–71: 6/78–9/78. Secret; Sensitive. On the first page, Carter wrote, “Zbig—1. I should think that a U.S.-VNam relationship would be better for PRC, worse for USSR. I agree with State, but don’t wish to push any effort now. J.”


127. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 46, China: Normalization: 6–12/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Voyager; Eyes Only; Outside the System; Alpha Channel. Sent for action. A handwritten notation suggests that the memorandum was drafted in “mid-July ’78.” At the top of the page, Carter wrote, “Zbig—J.”


128. Memorandum From Michel Oksenberg of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 8, China (People’s Republic of): 6–8/78. Secret. Sent for information. At the top of the page, Brzezinski wrote, “RI: WR or DR,” meaning that he wanted to submit this memorandum to the President in the Weekly Report or Daily Report. On the second page, Inderfurth wrote, “ZB, A WR item? Rick.” Oksenberg sent a shorter version of this memorandum, addressed to Carter, to Brzezinski for his signature under an August 14 covering memorandum. (Ibid.)


129. Telegram From the Department of State to the Liaison Office in China

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840140–2320. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by Anderson, cleared by Oksenberg, and approved by Holbrooke. Repeated Priority to the White House.


130. Memorandum From Michel Oksenberg of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 42, PRM–24 [1]. Top Secret; Codeword. Sent for information. Brzezinski circled the date and wrote, “10 days to get to me! ZB.”


131. Memorandum From Michel Oksenberg of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Geographic File, Box 9, China (People’s Republic of): Normalization: 12/18/78–12/31/78. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only; Alpha; Outside the System. Sent for information.


132. Action Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (East Asia and Pacific Region) (Armacost) to Secretary of Defense Brown

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–81–0202, China (Reds) 092. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Stamped “SecDef has seen” and “8 Sep 1978.” At the top of the page, Brown wrote, “7/8. Show to Dep Sec, U Sec Pol, ASD ISA.” Next to that is a handwritten note by an unknown person that indicates that copies of the memorandum were sent to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.


133. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 8, China (People’s Republic of): 9–11/78. For Official Use Only. Drafted by William Clarke, Director of the PRC Affairs Division in the Bureau of East-West Trade, Department of Commerce, on September 13. The meeting took place in Secretary Kreps’s office.


134. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations (Strauss)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 8, China (People’s Republic of): 9–11/78. Confidential. Sent to Brzezinski under a covering memorandum from Platt and Deal, August 30, upon which Aaron wrote, “ZB—This is the item I mentioned. State is holding up action, but this will have to be faced or Strauss may just act on his own.” (Ibid.)


135. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 47, China: Normalization with PRC: Events–Aggregate documentation: 8–12/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only; Alpha. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room.


136. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 27, Brzezinski: 9–12/78. Confidential. Sent for action. At the top of the page, Carter wrote, “Zbig—Jack Watson. I agree with this. Implement. J.” Sent to Brezezinski under a September 22 covering memorandum from Oksenberg. (Ibid.)


137. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Holbrooke) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 44, Meetings: 10/1–6/78. Secret. Printed from an uninitialed copy.


138. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 51, Chron: 10/1–7/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only; Alpha. The meeting took place at the PRC United Nations Mission.


139. Memorandum From John Renner and Michel Oksenberg of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 42, PRM–24 [1]. Secret. Sent for action.


140. Intelligence Assessment Prepared in the National Foreign Assessment Center, Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 49, Mondale 8/79 China Trip: Briefing Material: 3/78–8/79. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].


141. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 44, Meetings: 10/7–31/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only; Alpha; Outside the System. Sent for action. The date is handwritten.


142. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 51, Chron: 10/8–21/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only; Alpha; Outside the System. Sent for action.


143. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 42, Weekly Reports [to the President], 71–81: 9/78–12/78. Top Secret; Contains Codeword. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum. This memorandum repeats passages used in an October 6 memorandum from Oksenberg to Brzezinski on “East Asian Developments and China Issues.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 39, East Asia, 3/77–10/78)


144. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Policy Review Committee (China S&T) (Press) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 21, PD/NSC-43. Secret. Sent through Brzezinski. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum.


145. Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Inderfurth) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 8, China (People’s Republic of), 9–11/78. Confidential.


146. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 8, China (People’s Republic of), 9–11/78. Confidential. Sent for action. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum.