January–September 1979
186. 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, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 45, Meetings: 12/18–31/78. Secret; Sensitive; Alpha; Outside the System. Sent for information. At the top of the page, Inderfurth crossed out the word Alpha and wrote below it, “ZB, Shouldn’t we now dispense with the Alpha channel for PRC-related memos (except the most sensitive)? Rick.” It appears that below it, Brzezinski scrawled, “Yes.”
187. Telegram From the Department of State to the Liaison Office in China and the Embassy in the Republic of China
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840163–2229. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Anderson and approved by Holbrooke, Thayer, and Marks (L). Repeated Immediate to Bangkok and the White House.
188. Telegram From the Department of State to All East Asian and Pacific Diplomatic Posts
Source: Department of State, American Embassy Beijing, 1979 Central Subject Files: Lot 82 F 82, Pol 2 Taiwan. Unclassified; Immediate. Repeated to Embassies in Africa, South and Central America, the Middle East, and Europe and to CINCPAC Honolulu.
189. Minutes of a Policy Review Committee Meeting
Source: Carter Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 72, PRC 086, 1/8/79, U.S.–China Economic Relations. Confidential. The meeting took place in the Conference Room of the Old Executive Office Building. The minutes refer to this meeting as a Special Coordination Committee meeting rather than a PRC meeting, whereas the Summary of Conclusions (see Document 190) calls it a PRC meeting. It is in fact most accurately termed a PRC meeting since it was chaired by a Department head (Blumenthal) rather than Brzezinski, and because it dealt with foreign policy and international economic issues. On the distinction between PRC and SCC meetings, see Brzezinski, Power and Principle, pp. 59–60, and Vance, Hard Choices, pp. 36–37.
190. Summary of Conclusions of a Policy Review Committee Meeting
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 45, Meetings: 1/1–9/79. Confidential. A January 10 covering memorandum from Dodson to Aaron is ibid. For the minutes of the meeting, see Document 189.
191. Telegram From the Liaison Office in China to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790062–0156. Confidential; Immediate Limdis. Repeated Immediate to Hong Kong and Tokyo and to Seoul, Taipei, and CINCPAC for POLAD.
192. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, VIP Visit File, Box 2, China: Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, 1/28/79–2/1/79: Cables and Memos, 12/15/78–1/24/79. Confidential. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum. A January 13 covering memorandum from Oksenberg to Brzezinski states, “I have made the recommendation coincide with your preference, though I personally am not inclined in the same direction. I think to permit an aircraft blitz on the last day stimulates more Chinese hope than we now intend to fulfill.” (Ibid.)
193. Memorandum From Fritz Ermarth of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Presidential Advisory Board, Box 74, Far East: Box 2. Secret; Sensitive; Outside the System. Sent for information. The first page is stamped, “ZB has seen.”
194. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting
Source: Carter Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 58, ADH 006, 1/17/79, Ad Hoc SCC, China. Confidential. When Aaron received the Summary of Conclusions from Oksenberg, he requested that Oksenberg also “prepare a 4 or 5 sentence paragraph summarizing the highlights of the meeting for submission to the President tonight as a daily report item.” (Memorandum from Gates to Oksenberg, January 18; Carter Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 58, ADH 006, 1/17/79, Ad Hoc SCC, China.)
195. Report of a Special Coordination Committee Ad Hoc Group Meeting on China
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 46, Meetings: 1/10–24/79. Secret. Prepared by Oksenberg. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.
196. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, VIP Visit File, Box 2, China: Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, 1/28/79–2/1/79, 1/25/79 Briefing Book [I]. Secret. Sent for action. This memorandum was hand-carried to the President on January 25, according to Oksenberg’s January 24 covering memorandum to Brzezinski. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, VIP Visit File, Box 2, China: Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, 1/28/79–2/1/79: Cables and Memos, 12/15/78–1/24/79)
197. 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 46, Meetings: 1/25–31/79. Secret. Sent for action. The date is handwritten. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum.
198. 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 9, China (PRC): 1–3/79. Confidential. Sent for action. The date is handwritten. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum.
199. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, VIP Visit File, Box 2, China: Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, 1/28/79–2/1/79: 1/25/79 Briefing Book [I]. Secret; Sensitive.
200. 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), 82–90 (12/78–3/79). Secret; Eyes Only. At the top of the page, Carter wrote, “Zbig—Interesting. J.”
201. 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, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 38, Deng Xiaoping 1/79 Visit: 1/25–29/79. Secret; Eyes Only; Outside the System. Sent for information.
202. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Far East, Oksenberg Subject File, Box 57, Policy Process: 10–11/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only.
203. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat Files: Lot 84 D 241, Box 9, Vance NODIS Memcons, 1979. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Thayer and cleared by Sullivan. Vance’s luncheon took place in the James Madison Room at the Department of State.
204. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 47, China: President’s Meeting with Vice Premier Deng: 1–2/79. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. Brzezinski gave Carter suggested talking points for this meeting, which were initialed “C.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, VIP Visit File, Box 2, China: Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, 1/28/79–2/1/79: 1/25/79 Briefing Book [III])
205. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 47, China: President’s Meeting with Vice Premier Deng: 1–2/79. Top Secret. At the top of the page, Brzezinski wrote, “ZB’s notes, reviewed by P,” to indicate that he had taken these notes, and Carter had reviewed them. Carter’s additions are noted in the footnotes below.
206. Oral Presentation by President Carter to Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping
Source: Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Geographic File, Box 9, China (People’s Republic of), President Meeting with (Vice Premier) Deng Xiaoping: 12/19/78–10/3/79. No classification marking. Handwritten by the President on White House stationery. At the top of the page, Carter wrote, “Read by me to Deng. Interpreter transcribed for him. JC.” Carter made this presentation near the beginning of the meeting on the morning of January 30. See Document 207.
207. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 47, China: President’s Meeting with Vice Premier Deng: 1–2/79. Top Secret. According to the President’s Daily Diary, this meeting took place in the Oval Office with Deng and the Chinese interpreter, Ji Chaozhu, from 9:05 to 9:40 a.m. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials)
208. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 47, China: President’s Meeting with Vice Premier Deng: 1–2/79. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting took place in the Oval Office and lasted until 10:52 a.m. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials) Carter received talking points from Brzezinski before the meeting. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, VIP Visit File, Box 2, China: Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, 1/28/79–2/1/79: 1/25/79 Briefing Book [III])
209. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 47, China: President’s Meeting with Vice Premier Deng: 1–2/79. Secret. The breakfast meeting took place at Blair House.
211. Memorandum From the President’s Adviser for Science and Technology (Press) and 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 25, Brown (Harold) 1/80 Trip: 8–9/79. Top Secret. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum.
212. Oral Message From Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping to President Carter
Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Outside the System File, Box 47, China: Sino-Vietnamese Conflict, Heads of State Exchanges: 2/79. Secret. Delivered by Chai on the morning of February 15 to Oksenberg since both Vance and Brzezinski were in Mexico with Carter. (Brzezinski, Power and Principle, p. 411)
214. Record of a National Security Council Meeting
Source: Carter Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 56, NSC 016, 2/16/79, SINO-Vietnamese Conflict/Iran. Top Secret.
215. 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 9, China (PRC): 1–3/79. Secret. Sent for information. A stamped notation at the top of the page reads, “ZB has seen.”