CABLE TO DAVID BRUCE FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-462-7-14-6
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: July 22, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-14-6
VIA VOYAGER CHANNELS
TO: AMBASSADOR BRUCE
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER 7D
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ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
The following is the text of a note which we propose to hand
to Han Hsu on Tuesday,. in response to their note on Cambodia.
Would appreciate your comments on text. Feel we must be fairly
tough just to let them know they do not have a free ride. On
Wednesday, pan to hand Han Hsu a note on my visit, rejecting
August 16 and proposing September 6 through 9. QUOTE
" The US side has consistently sought a ceasefire and political
settlement in Cambodia since the January 27 Paris Agreement. The
other side has continually refused to end the war in Cambodia and
responded to the unilateral ceasefire proclaimed by the Phnom Penh
government and the cessation of US air actions in Cambodia in
February with an intensified military offensive.
The Chinese side declared to the US side in its message of
June 4 that it would communicate the US peace proposal of May :27
to Prince Sihanouk. This proposal accepted a long-standing Chinese
suggestion for direct talks with Prince Sihanouk made daring every
visit by Dr. Kissinger to Peking. The contents of the June 4 message
were reiterated on June 13 by Foreign Minister Chi P'eng-fei and again
in the Chinese message of July 6, that this awaited only the return of
Prince Sihanouk from his travels. On July 6, Ambassador Huang Chen
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-14-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-14-6
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declared that the Chinese side would convey the US proposal to Prince
Sihanouk now that he had returned to Peking.
The Chinese message of July 18 has therefore been noted with
astonishment. There has been no change in US policy and no increase
in US activities. In light of these earlier assurances, and the principles
and spirit of the Shanghai Communique, it is impossible to understand
why the Chinese side is unable to communicate an American peace
proposal to a leader located in Peking. This raises special difficulties
because in reliance on the June 4. note and subsequent assurances, the
US had not engaged in any other negotiations or responded to any other
channels. It is absurd that this leader should publicly demand that
communications to him go through Mauritania to which the Chinese
side would not entrust the original US communication of May 27.
As to the substance of the Chinese note of July 18, the Chinese
side will not be surprised that the US side rejects a "solution" so one-
sidely dictated to it. This is inconsistent with the requirements of
reciprocity and equality. It is beyond the bounds of logic to be asked
to negotiate on an issue when the other side, clearly and from the
outset, leaves no room for negotiations. In these circumstances
the US side will leave negotiations to the Cambodian parties.
The Chinese side has often expressed its devotion to principle.
The US side is no less serious. One of its firm principles is not to
betray those that have relied on it, a position which is essential if
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hegemonial aspirations are to be resisted. The US side believes
that the Chinese side will welcome US adherence to this principle in
other contexts." UNQUOTE
Warm regards.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-14-6