LETTER TO ALEXANDER M. HAIG, JR. FROM ROBERT ARMSTRONG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-12-1-24-0
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 22, 2009
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: February 8, 1971
• Content Type: LETTER

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2009/12/22: LOC-HAK-12-1-24-0
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8 February 1971
You will remember that we spoke on 3 February
on the telephone, when the Prime Minister wanted to
call the President and made an arrangement for .
them to speak at midday your time (6 p.m. our time).
We here thought that, in view of the sensitivity
of the subject, the conversation ought to be held
on the secure voice (Belgard) channel and this channel
was accordingly set up. My people got in contact
with the White House Communications Agency on Belgard,
but it seemed that they (the 'WHCA) were surprised to
receive the call. When the Prime Minister was ready
to.speak, your people appeared not to know that he
wished to talk to the President and, in the event.'
the President came through instead on an open
(insecure) channel.
I am wondering whether there was some technical
trouble that made this necessary; but I am chiefly,
anxious to be sure that the uncertainties were not
attributable to any failure on our part at this end.
It is obviously important that the arrangements for
using this channel should be in good order and v,ell
understood on both sides, in case they need to be
used at short notice.
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
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Brigadier-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
CONFIDENTIAL
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2009/12/22 : LOC-HAK-12-1-24-0