131219Z MAR 72 [text not declassified]

FM: AMBASSADOR WATSON PARIS 626

TO: THE WHITE HOUSE EYES ONLY FOR DR. HENRY KISSINGER

HAVE JUST COMPLETED MY FIRST VISIT WITH AMBASSADOR HUANG. HE WAS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOU LETTER AND ASKED ME TO SEND YOU HIS WARMEST REGARDS. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS VERY CORDIAL. HE HAD A CHINESE WITH HIM WHO INTERPRETED THE CONVERSATIONS INTO FRENCH. ALSO PRESENT WAS MR. TSAO, FIRST SECRETARY. THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT FOR MAJOR MATTERS HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME. FOR LESS IMPORTANT, ROUTINE THINGS, HE ASKED ME TO DESIGNATE SOMEBODY HERE AT THE EMBASSY THAT COULD DEAL WITH MR. TSAO. I TOLD HIM THAT AT PRESENT I HAD NOT CHOSEN ANYBODY FOR THIS ROLE, BUT AS HE PRESSED THE POINT, I HAVE DESIGNATED ALLEN HOLMES, POLITICAL COUNSELOR, IN WHOM I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE AND WHO WILL SEND NO MESSAGE TO WASHINGTON WITHOUT CLEARING IT WITH ME. HE WAS ALSO PLEASED BY MY ASSURANCES THAT ANY MESSAGES FROM ME WOULD BE DIRECTLY TO YOU AND THE PRESIDENT, THEREBY AVOIDING ANY LEAKS. HE OBVIOUSLY IS WELL INFORMED ABOUT JACK ANDERSON.

AS I MENTIONED IN MY OTHER CABLE, HE IS RETURNING MY CALL THURSDAY AT 1100. I DID MENTION TO HIM THAT YOU ALL WERE EXTREMELY PLEASED BY THE WARM WELCOME YOU RECEIVED IN CHINA, THE RESULT OF WHICH WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSE NUMEROUS REQUESTS FOR VISITS, WHICH HE QUITE UNDERSTOOD AND WHICH HE DID NOT PROTEST. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INSTRUCTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR MY THURSDAY MEETING. HAVE SENT SECRETARY A SHORT MESSAGE MERELY STATING WE HAD HAD A FRIENDLY DISCUSSION.

ON MY RETURN TO MY OFFICE WAS INFORMED THAT JAPANESE EMBASSY HERE IS MOST ANXIOUS TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE ON THESE MEETINGS. UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO THE CONTRARY WILL TELL THEM THAT ATMOSPHERE IS FRIENDLY AND SAY NO MORE.

WARM REGARDS,
WATSON