CONTACT WITH THE CHINESE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-512-1-5-6
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: May 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: September 14, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/26: LOC-HAK-512-1-5-6
MEMORANDUM d. fl IV 4J0 PPP ,
THE WHITE HOUSE INFORMATION l (-de+)
WA8f1NO1'ON September 14, 1970
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE .
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY (~`~~-dl~
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM: Henry A. Kis singer
SUBJECT: Contact with the Chinese
In response to an item on Communist Chinese activity in the
September 9 Daily Brief, you asked whether we should not try
again through our channel in Paris to contact the Chinese.
As suggested in your note, we do have an offer outstanding to the
Chinese. Attached is a copy of a message that we gave General
Walters on June 16, but which he has not yet delivered. (You,
of course, approved this message but we left it purposely
unsigned. Walters'would not hand over the text, but rather would
read from it literally.) Several weeks, ago he found an opportunity
to tell his Chinese contact that he had an important message from
our government to their government. The man said that he, would
inform his government that we had a message, but Walters-
received no response. This past Monday, September 7, Walters
again told his contact, at a Pakistani reception; that he had a
message. The man again said that he would tell-his government.
We have also been trying since the beginning of the year to open
a channel through the Dutch, but I believe if Ave are to have any
success it will be through Paris.
I agree that it would be useful to establish contact with the Chinese
at this time. However, we have made clear signals, and I think
we have no choice but to wait and see if they are willing to respond.
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
.EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/26: LOC-HAK-512-1-5-6
 No Obiection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/26 LOC-HAK-512-1-5-6
TO ICE DE:f.SVZ?ET) BY
MAJOR CEllM ?'.AL VERNON A. WALT S
TO TI- CHMESE COMMAUDITST GOVERNMENT
The United Mater. Cov-erx!rent wishes to continue the cxehan ens that
are taking place through the Ambassadorial talks in Warsaw.' Hovrever,? it
is difZicult to maintain comploto secrecy in these talho due to their fora; .1
-mature, the large nannbcr of of;: vials involved and the, great public interest
that they have goncrat :d.
If the Government of the People's piepubllc of China desires talks that
are strictly confi n. wl,-cnd not. lnovm by other couufr.iee, the Predidont
iu ready to establish an alternative cbanne2?directly to him for rxaatters of
the most eetrer a Co sitivifiy. Its purpose would be to bring about an In
pzrovenent in US-Cbinc a relations fully recogrdsing differences in
ideology.
We are prepnrsd to activate such a chriancl th ou 'a the ls~r r. r of
14' ' ~?Sa >'.~'l Y e1non Vic! E d.+C:.w?T ,pie
lr3L.:.t'l ~ro~'+..+.L~,.rwuai y~'2?tb .3?oo .~.. +j+~? G~ve LYLnai.. ~.-? i ~~. Ir'C. .u, i~4: E.
Att.achc a : cre ted to kho F roi h Govrn.; nt in Paar'i . We are also
ready to send a hi.gb.4level personal repraocnta`.ive of the l?'ror ire t to P. rip,
pei oonal advisors, and his personal represea`ative unless othervlse agreed.
or son%,a other x utuc convenient, lac ;.t.en, far'direct talks' on U. S., -Chin
ro1~:4i. d6.R'..
l notivlcdS4 of these tb 7..s would be ccr: iicc to the ]t resident, big
TOY, VT Cr,.r, ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/26: LOC-HAK-512-1-5-6