POSSIBLE REASONS FOR CHINESE DELAY IN SETTING DATE FOR YOUR VISIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-462-8-2-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 3, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

h4f- A AL 749-4 -Z
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/08: LOC-HAK-462-8-2-8
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
PEKING 027
August 3, 1973
TO: HENRY KISSINGER
l
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
FROM: DAVID BRUCE
SUBJECT: Possible Reasons for Chinese Delay in Setting
Date for Your Visit
1. In my opinion the most likely reason for the Chinese
delay in setting the date for your visit is that they have not
yet completed their preparations nor determined the exact timing
for the Party Congress which, according to informed sources,
they had expected to hold in early August. It, would surely be
undesirable from their standpoint to have your visit during
the Party Congress; therefore, until they sort out the political
issues such a conclave would involve, and assure its success,
they would not wish to commit themselves to a firm date for you
to come to Peking. They have abruptly postponed indefinitely
visits by foreign delegations and individuals scheduled for the
first half of August.
2. Tending to confirm the above, there is considerable evidence
that high-level party meetings have been going on for some time
and are continuing. You will recall that Chiang Ching told me
on June 16 she had slipped away from an all-night party session
two evenings before in order to watch our swimmers perform. Just
last night, a USLO officer going past the Great Hall of the
People noted lights burning on the top floor and elsewhere plus
fifteen "red flag" limousines lined up outside. Much the same
thing occurred on the night of July 31 according to another
member of our staff. These events were not connected with
foreign visits. In addition, we have reported signs of a
tightning-up on ideological issues as might be expected prior
to a convening of a Party Congress.
3. It is also possible that the Chinese want to see how the
Cambodian situation develops prior to fixing the date for your
visit. Obviously the present political and military factors
would be greatly altered if the Khmer insurgents should take
Phnom Penh.
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/08: LOC-HAK-462-8-2-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/08: LOC-HAK-462-8-2-8
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY 2
4. Regardless of the Chinese motivations in not having set a
date for your visit, I believe they still want it to proceed at
a mutually suitable and convenient time. Despite a few snide --
but indirect -- remarks lately about "American imperialist
aggression," they have invested much political capital in
improving their relations with the United States, and will want
to show by an event such as your visit that this process is_
proceeding satisfactorily.
5. Warm Regards.
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/12/08: LOC-HAK-462-8-2-8