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People's Republic of China - Premier Hua Kuo-feng
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People's Republic of China - Premier Hua Kuo-feng
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Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders (Ford Administration)
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The original documents are located in Box 4, folder "People's Republic of China - Premier
Hua Kuo-feng" of the National Security Adviser's Presidential Correspondence with
Foreign Leaders Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 4 of the NSA Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders
Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Is
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
1/23/75
Mrs. Davis,
Please make limited access form
for NSC/S. I have Hak chron cy,
Solomon has his info cy. Cable
given to Sit. Rm. 1/23/75 at 6:00 pm.
Thanks!
to dors to &
FORE
file
GERALD
LIGHARY'S
387
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 23, 1975
Dear Mr. Premier:
Please accept my congratulations on your appoint-
ment by the Fourth Session of the National People's
Congress as Premier of the People's Republic of
China.
I look forward to meeting with you later this year
to discuss matters of common concern and interest.
While, as you noted in your report to the Congress,
fundamental differences remain between our two
countries, I remain hopeful that through common
efforts we can overcome these differences and
advance the cause of normalizing Sino-American
relations and thus fulfill the joint commitment
expressed in the Shanghai Communique of 1972.
Sincerely, Gerald R. Ford
His Excellency
Chou En-lai
Premier of the People's
Republic of China
Peking
1
To.
NSC/5
Solomon hand delensed
Presidented letter to PRC Liaison
Offia on 23 Joan.
O
at
NSC 0387
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
January 24, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. GEORGE S. SPRINGSTEEN
Executive Secretary
Department of State
SUBJECT: Pres ltr to Chou En-lai of PRC dated
January 23, 1975.
REFERENCE:
MM MM Mm
The attached letter is sent for your information.
Staff Secretary
MEMORANDUM
387
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
ACTION
SEGRET/SENSITIVE
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
HENRY A. KISSINGER
HK
SUBJECT:
A Message of Congratulations to
PRC Premier Chou En-lai
Chou En-lai's recent reappointment to the Premiership of the People's
Republic of China presents an appropriate occasion for you to send
the Premier a message of congratulations. Chou sent you a congratu-
latory letter in August in response to a message you sent Chairman
Mao affirming your Administration's commitment to the Shanghai
Communique.
The attached draft message echos Chou's speech to the National
People's Congress, in which the Premier refers to the existence of
"fundamental differences" between the PRC and the U.S. Your reply
is intended to convey the implication that it will take joint efforts to
overcome these differences if we are to make further progress in
normalizing Sino-American relations. I believe this is the most
effective posture for you to adopt in advance of your trip to Peking
later this year.
The letter at Tab A has been cleared with Paul Theis.
Recommendation:
That you sign the letter to Premier Chou En-lai at Tab A.
DECLASSIFIED
SECRET/SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
BY lab
, NARA, DATE 3/9/04
MEMORANDUM
387
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
URGENT ACTION
SEGRET/SENSITIVE
January 20, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
SECRETARY KISSINGER
FROM:
RICHARD H. SOLOMON
RAS
SUBJECT:
A Presidential Message of Congratulations
to Chou En-lai
Chou En-lai's reappointment by the National People's Congress as
Premier of the PRC raises the que stion of whether or not the
President should send him a message of congratulations. State has
drafted messages of congratulations on your behalf to Chou, as well
as to Teng Hsiao-p'ing, Ch'iao Kuan-hua, and Yeh Chien-ying. I
have coordinated the wording of the attached drafts with the PRC Desk
at State, in addition to clearing them with Paul Theis.
In protocol terms, it would be quite appropriate for the President to
send Chou a message of congratulations. Indeed, it would probably be
viewed by the PRC as a slight for him not to do SO. However, there
are a number of political dimensions to such a message worthy of con-
sideration, particularly as they relate to the posture you feel it is
most appropriate for the President to adopt in advance of his trip to
Peking later this year, and the state of our discussions with the Chinese
on the matter of normalization of relations.
It might be argued that we should reserve the President's authority for
all but the central issues in our relations with Peking. This is certainly
the posture the PRC has adopted in the way it has invoked Chairman
Mao's authority in dealings with us. After the President's inauguration
in August, for example, Mr. Ford sent a personal message to Chairman
Mao affirming his Administration's commitment to the policies of
President Nixon as they related to China. Mao did not reply directly to
the President, however. Chou En-lai responded to Mr. Ford on behalf
of himself and the Chairman. In a sense the Chinese sought to bring
the President "down" to the level of the Premier. [On the other hand,
of course, Mao does not hold a state position in the PRC, and in
protocol terms the reply from Chou can be considered correct.
DECLASSIFIED
SEGRET/SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
BY Cola
, NARA, DATE 3/9/04
SECRET/SENSITIVE
2
A more political perspective on this matter is the current state of our
relations with Peking, and the signal you wish to send on the issue of
normalization. Chou En-lai's political report to the National People's
Congress contained a rather aloof, almost "wait and see" attitude
regarding U.S.-PRC relations. He noted that "fundamental differences"
remain between us, but said that because of "joint efforts" by both sides
relations have improved "to some extent" in the last three years. He
then asserted that our relations will continue to improve "so long as the
principles of the Sino-American Shanghai Communique are carried out
in earnest. 11 There is something of an edge of the "you owe us a debt"
line in his formulation -- as Teng Hsiao-p'ing explicitly asserted to you
during your November trip.
For reasons of tactical effect you may not wish to have the President
adopt too warm or forthcoming a posture toward Chou in advance of his
Peking trip. This could also be a way of conveying our concern about
the way the PRC has increasingly characterized us in terms equivalent
to the USSR. Chou's Congress speech, for example, asserted that
"the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, are the
biggest international oppressors and exploiters today, and they are the
source of a new world war. 11
The draft message of congratulations at Tab B seeks to convey a for-
mally correct and politically neutral tone. The second message, at
Tab A, conveys a more reserved effect by referring to Chou's remark
about remaining differences between the U.S. and PRC, and by implying
that it will require joint efforts to overcome our differences if we are
to complete the normalization of relations.
My personal recommendation would be to use the more aloof message
at Tab A.
These messages are covered by a memo from you to the President at
Tab I.
Recommendation:
That you forward to the President the message at Tab A by signing
the memorandum at Tab I.
Jabs A 80530 I and RCM
FORD LIBRARY & 07V830
SEGRET/SENSITIVE
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
1/20/75
Paul Theis:
Attached for your clearance is
a Presidential letter to Chou En-lai
congratulating him on his reappoint-
ment as Premier of the People's
Republic of China.
Dick Solomon
ext. 3505
DD JAN 20 PM 5 18
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Dear Mr. Premier:
Please accept my congratulations on your
reappointment by the Fourth Session of the
National People's Congress as Premier of
the People' S Republic of China. I look for-
ward to meeting with you later this year to
discuss matters of common concern and
interest, including further steps toward nor-
malization of relations between our two
countries on the basis of the principles laid
down in the Shanghai Communique.
Sincerely,
His Excellency
Chou En-lai
Premier of the People's
Republic of China
Peking
I
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
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CLASSIFICATION LOG NBR
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CLASSIFICATION:
CLASSIFIED BY:
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(Enter only when originated in NSC)
EXEMPT GDS: SB
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SUBJECT:
FOR INCOMING MATERIAL:
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BASIC LOGGING/INDEXING INFORMATION
NSC STAFFER FOR ACTION:
ACTION RQD:
NSC STAFFER(S) FOR INFO:
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REFERENCE NBRS ON INCOMING DOCUMENT IF ANY:
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CONFIDENTIAL
VIA VOYAGER CHANNEL
TO:
JOHN H. HOLDRIDGE
USLO PEKING
FROM:
BRENT SCOWCROFT
THE WHITE HOUSE
1. Please deliver to the Foreign Ministry the following message
of congratulations from the President for Premier Chou En-lai
at
by opening of business tomorrow.
2. Dear Mr. Premier:
Please accept my congratulations on your appointment
by the Fourth Session of the National People's Congress as
Premier of the People's Republic of China.
I look forward to meeting with you later this year to
discuss matters of common concern and interest. While, as
you noted in your report to the Congress, fundamental dif-
ferences remain between our two countries, I remain hopeful #
that through common efforts we can overcome these differences
and advance the cause of normalizing Sino-American relations
and thus fulfill the joint commitment expressed in the Shanghai
Communique of 1972.
Sincerely,
Gerald R. Ford
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
BY
la
, NARA, DATE 3/9/04
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
2
His Excellency
Chou En-lai
Premier of the People's
Republic of China
Peking
3. The signed copy of this message will be delivered to
PRCLO here.
4. Warm regards.
I
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM
471-X
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
ACTION
CONFIDENTIAL
January 23, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
GENERAL SCOWCROFT
FROM:
RICHARD H. SOLOMON
ats
SUBJECT:
Backchannel to USLO
Attached is a backchannel message to John Holdridge at USLO in
Peking (George Bush has already departed the capital) asking
Holdridge to deliver the President's message of congratulations
to Chou En-lai.
I will pass the hard copy of the message to the PRC Liaison
Office as soon as the President has signed it.
Recommendation:
That you sign the message at Tab A.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
CONFIDENTIAL
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
BY
lola
, NARA, DATE. 3/9/04
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MEMORANDUM
1174
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
INFORMATION
CONFIDENTIAL
March 3, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
HENRY A. KISSINGER
HX
AR7
SUBJECT:
Chou En-lai's Message of
Appreciation to You
On February 21, I called in Ambassador Huang Chen, Chief of the
Liaison Office of the People's Republic of China, for a brief review
of the results of my recent trip to the Middle East and the discus-
sion with Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko in Geneva.
During the meeting Ambassador Huang asked me to transmit to you
a letter of appreciation from Premier Chou En-lai in response to
your letter to Chou of January 23 congratulating him on his reappoint-
ment as Premier of the State Council by the Fourth National People's
Congress.
Chou's letter, at Tab A, conveys a friendly if somewhat reserved
air. It expresses welcome in anticipation of your visit to Peking
later this year, and expresses the hope that there will be continuous
improvement in U.S.- PRC relations on the basis of earnest implemen-
tation of the principles of the Shanghai Communique.
I received a similarly worded note of appreciation from Foreign
Minister Ch'iao Kuan-hua, who also expressed interest in the dis-
cussions which will be held later in the year.
We will, of course, be taking a hard look at the various political
issues which might be put on the agenda of your discussions in Peking
some months in advance of the China summit meeting, perhaps in a
trip which I might make to the PRC shortly after the anticipated
Brezhnev visit.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
CONFIDENTIAL
BY. Ha
, NARA, DATE 3/9/04
(Translation)
Peking, February 19, 1975
Mr. Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States
of America
Respected Mr. President:
I wish to express my thanks for your letter of congratulations
on my appointment as Premier of the State Council of the People's
Republic of China by the Fourth National People's Congress.
We welcome you to visit our country this year and exchange
views on matters of common interest. We hope that the relations
between China and the United States will improve continuously on the
basis of earnest implementation of the principles of the Shanghai
Communique.
With my best wishes,
Chou En-lai
Premier of the State Council of
the People's Republic of China
# 4
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MEMORANDUM
1174
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
ACTION
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CONFIDENTIAL
February 24, 1975
3/3/75
MEMORANDUM FOR:
SECRETARY KISSINGER
Bets
FROM:
RICHARD H. SOLOMON
SUBJECT:
Chou En-lai's Message of Appreciation
to President Ford
During your meeting of February 21 with PRCLO Chief Huang Chen,
Huang transmitted to you a letter of appreciation from Premier
Chou En-lai in response to the President's letter of congratulations
sent to Chou after his reappointment by the National People's
Congress as Premier of the PRC.
At Tab I is a memorandum from you to the President transmitting
Chou's letter. The memorandum notes that the letter of appreciation
is one of a number of indications that the Chinese are apparently
seeking to establish a friendly -- if somewhat reserved -- atmosphere
in advance of the President's trip to the PRC. You note, however,
that there will have to be a hard-headed review of the political issues
which will be put on the agenda of the President's visit some months
before the actual trip, presumably in a planning visit which you would
make sometime after the Soviet summit meeting during the summer.
Recommendation:
That you sign the memo to the President at Tab I.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
CONFIDENTIAL
BY Car
, NARA, DATE 3/9/04
26
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