CABLE TO DAVID BRUCE FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-462-7-6-5
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: July 18, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-6-5
1P AM I 1P
VIA VOYAGER CHANNEL
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE/EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
July 18, 1973
TO: AMBASSADOR BRUCE
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER
SUPER FLASH
We have just received a message from the Chinese which is quoted
below. It is substantially more brutal than anything else we have received
on Cambodia or anything else to-date. Our initial evaluation of the message
is that it is a much more fundamental problem than simply Cambodia.
There are no elements of grace, no mention of my visit, and no reference
to any aspects of the larger dialogue in which we have been engaged.
We would like urgent assessment of Jenkins/Holdridge by 0900
Washington time Thursday of this message in light of the entire sequence
of their communications on Cambodia going back to May. Please note tone,
substance, fact that it is confined to Cambodia and give us your views as to
whether this calculated to force me to take the onus of cancelling the trip,
represents a fundamental policy change, or simply embarrassment at the
inability to deliver. Is there anything in the Chinese press which would support
this kind of message? You should know in assessing this that we have told
Chinese some threatening things Brezhnev said before Huang departed,
which I planned to provide you during my visit in detail.
Our present thinking is to cancel my trip with a cool note which we
would pass here on Saturday, asking them to offer another date after
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-6-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-6-5
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE/EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY 2
September 1 for a visit. On Monday or Tuesday Ambassador Bruce
would pass a harsh response to their Cambodia note, express his astonishment
and offer a fundamental discussion of the full range of US/Chinese relations.
Request your urgent assessm.entyX,lso evaluate this approach. Please
give us fuller assessment by 1700 Friday, Washington time.
QUOTE MESSAGE ........ (attached)......... UNQUOTE.
Warm regards.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-6-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-6-5
~ ?. :~ ,-~_ ~ , ~~ ' /r7 .
It is believed that the U.S. side is aware of the recent
developments in the situation in Cambodia. Of late, Sammdech
Sihanouk, head of state of Cambodia, and the National United
Front and the Royal Government of National Union led by him
have repeatedly enunciated their position in public, reiterating
the Five-Point Declaration of I:arch 23, 1970, and demanding
that the United States immediately end its bombing of Cambodia,
. st6p its military aids to the Lon Nol clique and withdraw all
military personnel dispatched by the United States and its
allies. In conformity with its consistent position stated to
the U.S.. side on many occasions, the Chinese side fully supports
the above Cambodian demands. Nevertheless, the U.S. side is
still obdurately continuing its bombing of Cambodia, intensifying
its support to the Lon Nol clique grid putting pressure on
Samdech Sihanouk and the Royal Government of National Union
in other respects. This has all the more enraged Samdech
Sihanouk, the Royal Government of National Union and the
Cambodian people. Under these circumstances, the Chinese
side holds that it is obviously inappropriate to communicate
to Samdech Sihanouk the tentative thinking on the settlement
of the Cambodian auestion as set forth by the U.S. side in
late i:ay. The Chinese side wishes to inform the U.S. side of
this with frankness.
The origin of the Cambodian question is clear to the
U.S. side. "It is up to the doer to undo the knot." The key
to the settlem nt of the question is held by the United States,
and not by others. If the United States truly desires to
settle tlz4 Cambodian question, the above reasonable demands
raised by the Cambodian side should be acceptable to it. It
is hoped that the U.S. side will give serious consideration
to this and translate it into action.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-462-7-6-5