Conversation: 483-010
Prev: 483-009 Next: 483-011Start Date: 20-Apr-1971 12:40 PM
End Date: 20-Apr-1971 1:10 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Naville, Marcel A.; Borsinger, Melchoir; [Unknown person(s)];Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:00:46
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:28:15
NARA Description:
On April 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Marcel A. Naville, Melchoir Borsinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:40 pm to 1:10 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 483-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 483-10
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Date: April 20, 1971
Time: 12:40 pm - 1:10 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger, Marcel A. Naville, and Melchior Borsinger; the
White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting
Greetings
The President's previous meeting with Borsinger
-Hungary
-Unknown place
-Unknown occasion
Photo session
-Seating arrangements
-Kissinger
General conversation
-Spring time
-Kissinger
Work of Red Cross
Refreshments
International Red Cross activities
-Jordan
-Nigeria
-Vietnam
-South Vietnamese areas
-Hanoi
-Progress
-Contacts
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Thailand
-Paris
-North Vietnamese
-Confidence
-North Vietnamese view of the Red Cross
-POW pilots
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Possible Vietcong delegation
-PGR?
-Geneva
-Impartiality/neutrality
-Vietnam
-North Vietnam
-Alleged atrocities in South Vietnam
-Investigations Conv. No.483-10 (cont.)
-Civilian population
-US soldiers
-Rules and regulations
-Code of honor
-POWs rights
-Protection of civilian population
-Possible statement by the President
-Forthcoming conference in Geneva regarding international humanitarian law
-American experts
-Code of honor
Laos
-Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr.'s statement on bombing of villages
-US military activities
-Allegations of bombing villages
-Presence of North Vietnamese forces
-Numbers
-Individual acts
-Rules
Vietnam
-Communist atrocities
-Decapitations
-Starvation
-Catholic refugees
-Vietnamese standards
-Inspections by International Red Cross in South Vietnam
-US efforts/policy
-Instructions for US soldiers
-Humaneness
Laos
-US policy
-Review
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Rules of engagement
-McCloskey’s changes
-Bombing of Civilians
-Congressional committees
-Orders and actual practice
-Regulations for American soldiers
Anecdote Conv. No.483-10 (cont.)
-World War II
-German border
-Treatment of POWs
-Orders
-Restraint
Vietnam
-US POWs
-Relation to moral image of US Army
-US government
-Kissinger's conversation with Clark MacGregor
Pakistan
-Position toward International Red Cross
Brazil
-Political detainees
International Red Cross
-Visits to political detainees
-Greece
-Middle East
-Israel
-Geneva Convention on Arab civilian population
-West Bank
-Problems
-Improvement/adaptation of conventions
-Present-day conflicts
-Need for new protocols
-Civil wars
-Nigeria
-Pakistan
-Jurisdiction
-International war
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Civil war
-Staffing
-Geneva
-Professionals
-Field
-Number
-Problems
-Finances Conv. No.483-10 (cont.)
-Costs
-Credibility
-Avoiding double standards
-US and Europe
Vietnam
-Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr. case
-Trial and conviction
-Review by the President
-Rules of engagement
-President's Quaker background
-Convictions of soldiers
-Publicity of Calley case
-U Thant's attitude
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 12:40 pm.
The President's schedule
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 1:10 pm.
International Red Cross
-Vietnam
-Balance
-Atrocities
-POW situation
-South Vietnamese
-North Vietnamese POWs
-Possible US position regarding POWs
-Possible trade
-Unilateral releasee
Farewells
-Naville's role
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Kissinger, Naville, and Borsinger left at 1:10 pm.