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Documents 100-149

--  100. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 4:50-5:25 p.m.  [ PDF version   ] 

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger thanked Chinese Premier Chou En-lai for agreeing to language on Taiwan that would help President Nixon mollify his domestic critics.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Meetings in the People's Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.

Topics discussed at the fourth counterpart meeting between Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P'eng-fei included contacts and communication, U.S. and PRC commitments to public welfare, and Thailand.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Platt and approved in S on March 8. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, EA, and Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the Guest House.

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch'iao finalized the communiqué wording concerning Taiwan, discussed specifics on the development of trade relations, and considered editorial changes to the section on Vietnam.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Meetings in the People's Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. Brackets in the source text. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.

President Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai both agreed that common ground had been achieved, even though differences in principles existed. Secretary of State Rogers added that the discussions "helped clear up a number of misunderstandings," noting that fast and frequent communications aid in this process. Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P'eng-fei concurred, highlighting areas of agreement concerning trade relations and people-to-people exchanges. Nixon termed the visit "the story of the century."

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 91, Country Files, Far East, China, Memoranda of Conversation Between Secretary Rogers and PRC Officials, February 1972. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Alfred Jenkins and approved in S on March 10. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, E, and to Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the VIP Lounge of the Beijing Airport prior to the parties' departure to Hangchow. The precise time of the meeting is not indicated on the memorandum.

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger informed Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch'iao Kuan-hua that Secretary of State Rogers had suggested three minor changes to the Taiwan portion of the communiqué. Ch'iao refused to agree to the changes on Taiwan since both President Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai had already accepted the wording on February 26.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Meetings in the People's Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. Ellipses in the source text. The meeting was held at the Hangchow Hotel.

Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai briefly discussed how both President Nixon and Chairman of the Communist Party of China Mao Tse-tung had overcome, but would continue to face, domestic opposition in order to continue the normalization process.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Platt and approved in S on March 8. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, EA, and Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the Guest House Hotel, Shanghai. The time of the meeting is not indicated on the memorandum.

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch'iao Kuan-hua made a few minor stylistic changes to the communiqué and agreed that the Paris channel would remain open as the normalization process continued.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Meetings in the People's Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. Ellipses in the source text. The meeting was held at the Guest House Hotel.

During their fifth counterpart meeting, Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P'eng-fei agreed to gradually strengthen relations in the areas of communications, sports, cultural, and scientific exchanges.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Platt and approved in S on March 10. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, EA, and Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the Guest House Hotel.

The message informed PRC officials that the U.S. Government proposed to announce Paris as the "public contact point" for communication between the two nations. It also described the nature of a conversation between President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Soviet Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Dobrynin, and thanked the Chinese for inviting two U.S. senators to visit China.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the message. A typed notation on the message indicates that Peter Rodman of the National Security Council staff delivered the message to Shih Yen-hua, a member of the PRC delegation to the UN.

The message indicated Chinese acceptance of the disclosure of the Paris channel and discussed the visit of House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification indicated.

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Huang Hua raised several subjects with Commander Howe including the Chinese agreement to disclosure of the Paris channel, invitations to House Majority Leader Hale Boggs (D-Louisiana) and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford (R-Michigan) to visit China, security issues surrounding the death of a member of the Chinese delegation from nicotine poisoning-which the Chinese believed to be caused by foul play-and the problem of securing adequate facilities for the Chinese mission to the UN. He appealed for President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger's assistance in the ensuing investigation by the New York Police Department.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Transmitted by Haig to Kissinger under a March 7 covering note. Attached is a message from the Chinese Government discussing the prospective visit of Boggs and Ford; Document 109. Howe indicates that the meeting was held at "our special meeting place in New York City." For additional information about the death of the delegation member, see Documents 113 and 114.

Kissinger transmitted two letters to Nixon with the recommendation that he sign the letters.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 525, Country Files, Far East, PRC, Vol. III, Jan-Mar 1972. No classification marking. Kissinger's covering memorandum, sent for action, is dated March 10 and indicates that Ray Price cleared the letters. A notation on memorandum indicates that Nixon saw it. A handwritten note from Nixon reads: "K-where an occasion justifies it-see that I write Chou from time to time." The letters are published from copies that bear Nixon's handwritten signature.

In reference to President Nixon's proclamation of March 26-April 1, 1972, as a "national week of concern for prisoners of war," and the U.S. bombing campaign in North Vietnam, Chinese officials indicated that the U.S. Government would not obtain the release of U.S. prisoners of war unless the United States accepted the seven point proposal offered by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam delegates to the Paris Peace talks.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification indicated. A notation on the memorandum indicates Nixon saw it. Attached to the March 24 memorandum of conversation; Document 114.

Ambassador to the United Nations Bush recounted that he had informed Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua that he was personally satisfied that the New York Police Department had explored all angles of the death of the Chinese delegate and had been assured that the case would remain open.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 17 CHICOM-US. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Harry E. T. Thayer on June 8 and cleared by Joseph Glennon and Bush. Received at the Department of State on June 21.

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger assured Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Huang Hua that the White House had taken a "direct interest" in aiding in the investigation of the death of the Chinese delegate, explained that the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, George H.W. Bush, would not be privy to their conversations, and reported on his recent conversations with Soviet Ambassador to the United States Dobrynin concerning China. The attached message from the Government of the People's Republic of China stressed that the United States must end its bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The precise location of the meeting is not indicated. Ellipses in the source text. Lord sent the memorandum to Kissinger under a March 18 covering memorandum, on which he had written "Thru Haig." Kissinger wrote: "OK HK" on the covering memorandum. Tabs A-C are attached but not published. Tab D, the attached message, has no classification marking. A notation on the message indicates the President saw it. It is published as Document 112.

Ambassador to France Watson recounted his March 20 meeting with Chinese Ambassador to France Huang Chen. The two officials discussed the upcoming visit of the PRC Table Tennis team to the United States. Huang requested that the U.S. Government refuse entry to a Taiwanese table tennis group.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL CHICOM-US. Secret; Nodis; Homer; Immediate. Received in the Department of State at 12:49 p.m. Telegrams 46040, 47029, and 42369 to Paris are ibid.

Military Attaché Walters and Chinese Ambassador to France Huang Chen reflected on the role that they had played in the normalization process.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Walters on March 23. A notation on the memorandum reads: "C-exchange." The meeting was held at Chen's residence in Neuilly.

Ambassador to France Watson asked how he should handle press inquiries about his talks with the Chinese.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1037, Files for the President-China Material, China, March 10, 1972-April 1973. Secret; Eyes Only. Sent to the White House eyes only for Kissinger. A handwritten notation on the telegram reads: "HAK, Haig, Lord."

Ambassador to France Watson informed President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger of his first meeting with Chinese Ambassador to France Huang Chen and relayed Huang's relief that their talks in the future would only be shared with Kissinger and President Nixon.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1037, Files for the President-China Material, China, March 10, 1972-April 1973. Secret; Eyes Only. Sent to the White House eyes only for Kissinger. A handwritten notation on the telegram reads: "HAK, Haig, Lord."

Lord met informally with Shih Yen-hua of the Chinese Mission to the UN and communicated President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger's belief that there was "no policy he believed in more than improving relations with the People's Republic of China." The undated message references several points raised by the United States in the April 3 message.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the new quarters for the PRC Mission, located near Lincoln Center. The precise time of the meeting is not indicated. The United States message that Lord delivered is printed as Document 219, Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, volume XVII.

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Huang Hua protested that on two occasions the U.S. military had violated Chinese territorial waters and Chinese airspace. The President's Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig responded that he was unaware of such incursions and promised to investigate the allegations. Huang and Haig also discussed several minor administrative matters, including the Chinese Mission's new quarters, adequate security measures, and the upcoming visit of the PRC Table Tennis team.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Ellipsis in the source text. The precise location of the meeting is not indicated.

NSC staff member Rodman described his meeting with Shih Yen-hua as cordial and limited to polite small talk including discussion of pandas, pollution in the Great Lakes, and the cultural activities at Lincoln Center. The U.S. note referenced the North Vietnamese decision to call off the April 24 private meeting and proposed a compromise solution.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the PRC Mission at the UN. Attached is the U.S. note, upon which is written: "Handed by Rodman to Miss Shih 3:00 PM."

NSC staff member Rodman and Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Huang Hua discussed the historians and philosophers Rodman had studied while a student at Harvard University. The Chinese note, which constituted a protest, stated that a U.S. military aircraft had intruded into Chinese airspace and that the aircraft was "very obviously one of the U.S. planes that bombed Haiphong on the same day."

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the PRC Mission at the UN. Shih Yen-hua was also present. Brackets in the source text. Published from a copy that bears Rodman's initials. Attached is the Chinese note, which bears the handwritten notation: "Amb. Huang handed to Rodman 4/18/72-1:00 AM"

NSC staff member Lord provided President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger with a brief summary of Senators Mansfield and Scott's trip to China.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1038, Files for the President-China Material, Mansfield/Scott Trip to China [April-May 1972]. The precise location of the meeting is not indicated on the memorandum. Lord transferred the memorandum to Kissinger under a May 12 covering memorandum that was sent for information. No classification marking appears on the memorandum of conversation. The covering memorandum is classified Secret; Sensitive. Attached but not published at Tabs A and B are Mansfield and Scott's reports. Attached at Tab C of the covering memorandum are the memoranda of their conversations with Chou En-lai and Ch'iao Kuan-hua. The text of the first conversation is published herein and is presumably drafted by Norvil Jones, a staff member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Texts of the subsequent conversations are published as Documents 124-26. Tabs D and E are attached but not published.

Senators Mansfield and Scott and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ch'iao Kuan-hua discussed Vietnam, Korea, and Taiwan.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1038, Files for the President-China Material, Mansfield/Scott Trip to China [April-May 1972]. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by Jones. Presumably the meeting was held at the Great Hall of the People.

Senators Mansfield and Scott and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai agreed that an American withdrawal from Vietnam would reduce tensions in Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1038, Files for the President-China Material, Mansfield/Scott Trip to China [April-May 1972]. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by Jones. The meeting was held at the Great Hall of the People.

Senators Mansfield and Scott and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai discussed the feasibility of neutralizing all of Indochina, how tensions on the Korean peninsula could be reduced, the state of negotiations between the Soviet Union and China on reducing border tensions, and the status of Cambodia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1038, Files for the President-China Material, Mansfield/Scott Trip to China [April-May 1972]. No classification marking. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by Jones. The meeting was held at the Great Hall of the People.

The President's Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig relayed to Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger's discussions in Moscow concerning President Nixon's upcoming visit, SALT negotiations, events in West Germany, and Vietnam.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The precise location of the conversation is not indicated. Brackets in the source text. Presumably drafted by Rodman. Shi Yen-hau was also present. See Document 122 for discussion of the April 18 Chinese note.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua informed NSC staff member Rodman that he would be unable to travel to Washington to meet with President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger but would welcome a meeting with Kissinger in New York.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the PRC Mission at the UN. Brackets in the source text. Attached but not published is Nixon's letter to Chou En-lai

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger alerted Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua as to the nature of the discussions at the upcoming U.S.-Soviet summit and reassured him that the U.S. would not agree to anything that would hurt Chinese interests.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the PRC Mission at the UN. Attached at Tab A is the U.S.-Soviet Bilateral Agreements; attached at Tab B is the Basic Principles of U.S.-Soviet Relations; and attached at Tab C is the draft Sino-American announcement.

Lord reported that the Chinese had requested that Kissinger pay an earlier visit to China. Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua also asked about the Moscow summit, and Lord reminded Huang Hua of Kissinger's upcoming visit to Japan.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for action. Attached but not published at Tab A is the Chinese text. Attached but not published at Tab B is the American version. Attached but not published at Tab C is the Alsop letter to Kissinger.

Lord provided highlights of his most recent meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua. Topics included a Chinese protest note on U.S. intrusion into Chinese airspace and the revised dates of Kissinger's impending visit to China.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. A copy was sent to Haig. Attached at Tab A is the Chinese message, which bears the handwritten notation: "Amb H gave to WL 6/5/72." Attached at Tab B is the American message.

Ambassador Ch'en Ch'u, the Deputy Permanent PRC Representative to the UN, complained to NSC staff member Howe about repeated U.S. violations of Chinese airspace by planes returning from bombing sorties against North Vietnam. Howe explained that the U.S. was investigating the allegations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The precise meeting location is not indicated. Drafted by Howe. Attached at Tab A is the Chinese note.

Deputy Permanent PRC Representative to the United Nations Ch'en Ch'u again broached the issue concerning violations of Chinese airspace by U.S. warplanes, noting that bombs had been dropped on Chinese civilian structures and on Chinese merchant ships. Ch'en charged that these sorties "seriously menaced Chinese personnel." NSC staff member Howe assured Ch'en that the administration took the charges seriously and would investigate.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in New York. Attached at Tab A is the Chinese note.

President's Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Haig explained to Shih Yen-hua of the PRC Mission to the United Nations that both President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger had instituted procedures to prevent further violations of Chinese airspace.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China, PRC Allegations of Hostile Acts [ca. 6/72]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The time of the telephone conversation is not indicated on the memorandum.

NSC staff member Rodman told Shih Yen-hua of the PRC Mission to the United Nations that President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger had informed the Japanese Government that he would be visiting China. The Message acknowledged past accidental incursions into Chinese airspace, promised that new procedures had been instituted to prevent further transgressions, and apologized for the accidental bombing of Chinese territory.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held at the PRC Mission at the UN. Brackets in the source text. Attached at Tab A is the U.S. response to the Chinese notes on the aircraft incidents; it is published as Document 136. Attached but not published at Tab B is the message outlining details of Kissinger's visit to Peking.

The note provided urgent comment on the three notes the Government of the People's Republic of China had submitted to U.S. officials concerning intrusions into Chinese airspace.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification indicated. Attached at Tab A of the June 12 memorandum of conversation.

The report addressed the allegations raised by the PRC in its June 10 note.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Visit, June 1972 Memcons (Originals). Top Secret; Sensitive. No drafting information appears on the report. A handwritten notation on page three of the report reads: "Mountains would preclude an attack southwest of Ping Hsiang." For the Chinese note, see Document 133.

Secretary of Defense Laird outlined for the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger the findings of the investigation concerning PRC allegations of airspace intrusion.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 851, President's File-China Trip, Memcons, HAK China Visit 19-23 June 1972 Staff. Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword. Published from a copy that indicates Laird signed the original.

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger informed Chinese Premier Chou En-lai that the United States would oppose Soviet aggression in the Far East. Kissinger also indicated that the Paris talks had been suspended and that he favored a Sino-Japanese rapprochement.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Visit, June 1972 Memcons (Originals). Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Presumably drafted by Lord. Ellipses and brackets are in the source text. The meeting was held at Guest House #5.

Kissinger described his reception as the "warmest" yet and reported Chinese Premier Chou En-lai's interest in settling the Vietnam war.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China-Dr. Kissinger's June 1972 Visit. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. A copy was also sent to Rodman. Haig transmitted the message to Nixon under an attached June 19 covering memorandum summarizing Kissinger's points. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. An additional notation reads: Haig, Rodman."

Kissinger noted that he and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai had gathered for four separate meetings on the Soviet Union and Vietnam.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China-Dr. Kissinger's June 1972 Visit. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. A copy was also sent to Rodman. Handwritten notations on the memorandum read: "To HAK file" and "Haig, Rodman." Haig transmitted the message to Nixon under an attached June 20 covering memorandum summarizing Kissinger's meeting. A notation on the memorandum indicates that Nixon saw it. Nixon bracketed the section on McGovern.

Topics discussed included trade mechanisms and increased cooperation between the United States and the People's Republic of China in the areas of medicine and public health-specifically cancer research-scientific and cultural issues, cultural exchanges, and agricultural research

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 87, Country Files, Far East, China, PRC Counterpart Talks, 1971-73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by Richard Solomon. The meeting was held at the Guest House.

Kissinger recounted his 3 ½ hour session with Chinese Premier Chou En-lai. Topics discussed included the Soviet Union and Vietnam. Chou indicated that continuation of the war in Vietnam would not interfere in U.S.-Chinese rapprochement.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China-Dr. Kissinger's June 1972 Visit. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. A copy was sent to Rodman. Haig transmitted the message to Nixon under an attached June 21 covering memorandum summarizing Kissinger's third meeting with the Chinese. A notation on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it.

Topics discussed included the draft agreements on scientific, cultural, and technological matters, people-to-people exchanges, and trade issues.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 87, Country Files, Far East, China, PRC Counterpart Talks, 1971-73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by Solomon. Brackets in the source text. The meeting was held in Government Guest House #3.

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai discussed foreign intervention in China during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and their hopes for continued normalization of relations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Visit, June 1972 Memcons (Originals). Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Brackets in the source text. The meeting was held on a boat on a lake at the Summer Palace. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe.

Topics discussed included the Soviet Union, the war in Vietnam, and the presidential campaign.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger's Visit, June 1972 Memcons (Originals). Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Brackets in the source text. The meeting was held at the Government Guest House #5.

Kissinger provided a summary of his recent discussions with Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, terming them "my most extensive talks ever" with the Chinese leader. Vietnam, the Soviet Union, and various global issues constituted the broad outlines of these discussions.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 97, Country Files, Far East, China-Dr. Kissinger's June 1972 Visit. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. On page one President Nixon wrote "Superb job-Covers all the bases with expert Tactics." On page 4, after Kissinger noted Chou's denial that China had been involved in the recent North Vietnamese offensive, the President wrote: "He may be telling the truth. However it was in his interest to stop the Soviet Summit if possible." On page 8, regarding Kissinger's declaration that the U.S. would not rule out first use of nuclear weapons, the President noted: "K-The renunciation of use by Soviet & U.S. will send him up the wall." On page 10, regarding the projected 10-15 percent Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions (MBFR), the President wrote: "a necessary limit."

President's Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and Chinese Ambassador to the UN Huang Hua discussed the recent Soviet nuclear non-aggression proposal, an Algerian proposal for Korean reunification, and the establishment of relations between West Germany and the PRC. Attached are the 12 point negotiating paper and opening statements.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 850, President's File-China Trip, China Exchanges, June 25, 1972-Oct 17, 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Presumably drafted by Lord. Brackets in the source text. The precise location of the meeting is not indicated.

Nixon thanked Chou En-lai for receiving his Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger and promised to continue the work of normalization.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Geopolitical Files, China, Chron, May-June 1972. No classification marking.