Office of the Historian

76. Backchannel Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Beijing, undated1 2

Beijing, undated
[Page 1]

MEMORANDUM FOR: DR. HENRY A. KISSINGER

FROM: ALEXANDER M. HAIG

YOU WILL HAVE RECEIVED MY EARLY MORNING REPORT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH PRIME MINISTER CHOW AS A RESULT OF WHICH I HAVE REQUESTED YOUR GUIDANCE ON SEVEVERAL ISSUES AS I NOTED IN THAT MESSAGE, IT IS LIKELY THAT WE WILL HAVE ACHIEVED SOME PRC MOVEMENT ON MORE POSITIVE EXPRESSIONS IN COMMUNIQUE AND HOPEFULLY SOME BETTER LANGUAGE ON TAIWAN ISSUE. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WILL SERVE ANY USEFUL PURPOSE TO DEBATE THESE ISSUES FURTHER DURING OUR VISIT BUT RATHER TO BE SURE WE ARE PREPARED TO MAKE POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS IN FEBRUARY. THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO NOTED HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER OUR FURTHER VIEWS ON SOUTHEAST ASIA AND VIETNAM. HERE AGAIN, I WOULD PROPOSE HOLDING ACTION ACCOMPANIED BY INTENSE PREPARATORY STEPS HERE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN FEBRUARY. AS YOU KNOW, THE PRIME MINISTER ASSURED ME THERE WOULD BE NO EMBARRASSMENT TO THE PRESIDENT DURING HIS VISIT. HE ALSO AGREED COMPLETELY WITH ALL OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE, ITEMS WE DISCUSSED IN KEY BISCAYNE LAUGHING AT ITEM ON FEMALE TV PERSONALITY.

REFERENCE YOUR W.H. 20022, I HIT STRONGLY LAST NIGHT WITH THE PRIME MINISTER SUBJECT OF GROMYKO VISIT TO TOKYO. HE APPEARED CONCERNED WITH THIS TURN. I WILL MENTION DACCA TRANSGRESSION TODAY AT APPROPRIATE MOMENT.

I HAVE REFERRED THROUGHOUT SATAY IN BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL REMARKS TO YOUR WARM ATTITUDE TOWARD OFFICALS HERE. ALL HOLD YOU IN HIGHEST REGARD. WILL OBTAIN GIFTS AT EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.

[Page 2]

WE ARE NOW PROCEEDING TO FIRST TECHNICAL PLENARY SESSION. I REMAIN ENCOURAGED THAT PRC HAS INDEED CROSSED LINE ON NORMALIZATION AND IS DETERMINED TO PROCEED AT ALMOST ANY COST. ALL ARE MOST ANXIOUS TO MAKE VISIT SUCCESSFUL.

WARM REGARDS

NNNN
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1037, Files for the President-China Material, China-AH January [1972] visit. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only.↩
  2. Haig communicated the fact that Chinese Premier Chou En-lai was willing to consider the U.S. views on Southeast Asia and that he had agreed to other aspects of President Nixon’s visit.↩