Conversation: 634-012
Prev: 634-011 Next: 634-013Start Date: 9-Dec-1971 4:00 PM
End Date: 9-Dec-1971 4:41 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Marskevich, Vladimir V.; Vorontsov, Yuli M.; Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)]; Butterfield, Alexander P.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:24:13
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:06:27
NARA Description:
On December 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vladimir V. Marskevich, Yuli M. Vorontsov, Henry A. Kissinger, unknown person(s), and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:00 pm to 4:41 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 634-012 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 634-12
Date: December 9, 1971
Time: 4:00 pm - 4:41 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Vladimir V. Matskevich, Yuli M. Vorontsov, and Henry A. Kissinger.
[General conversation]
-Kissinger’s schedule
Introductory remarks
-Photographs of exhibition in Moscow
-The President’s attendance
-Milton S. Eisenhower
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] agriculture
Message from Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Greetings
-The President’s forthcoming trip to the USSR
-Significance
Brezhnev
-Relationship with Matskevich
-Forthcoming meeting with the President
-Matskevich’s view
-Aleksei N. Kosygin
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 4:00 pm.
Refreshments
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 4:33 pm.
USSR trip
-The President’s upcoming meeting with Brezhnev
-Significance
-Brezhnev
-US-USSR relations
-Possible impact
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 634-12 (cont.)
India-Pakistan situation
-Brezhnev
-Importance to the US
-Sense of urgency
-Possible settlement
US-USSR relations
-Progress over the past three years
-The President’s anti-Communism
-Negotiations
-Andrei A. Gromyko
-The President’s previous conversation with Gromyko
-The President’s respect for USSR leaders
-Progress
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Berlin
-European security conference
-Kissinger
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Middle East
-Formal discussions
-Potential opportunities
-Berlin
-Limitations of armaments
-Middle East
-European security conference
-Trade
-Maurice H. Stans
-Previous trip to USSR, November 1971
-Peace and cooperation
-Different objectives
-USSR trip
-Timing
-India-Pakistan situation
-United Nations [UN]
-Disagreements
-Possible outcome
-Pakistan
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Alliance
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 634-12 (cont.)
-USSR-Indian relations
-PRC
-Pakistan
-US-USSR relations
-Possible working relationship for peace
-Conditions for peace
-Ceasefire
-Attacks on West Pakistan to cease
-Possible action from the US
-Negotiations
-Prompted by Brezhnev [?]
-Agha Muhommad Yahya Khan
-Awami League
-Withdrawal
-Settlement
-Fairness
-USSR-Indian relations
-Key to settlement
-Negotiations
-US influence
-Yahya Khan
-Awami League
-Timing
-Possible confrontation
-Treaties
-USSR-US cooperation
-Spirit of cooperation
-UN
-Brezhnev
-Sense of urgency
-Differences between US and USSR
-Arms control
-Middle East
-India-Pakistan situation
-Trade
-Future of Europe
-Accomplishments
-Thanks from the President for the meeting
-Matskevich’s conversations with Brezhnev
-Pakistan
-Europe
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 634-12 (cont.)
-SALT
-Trade
-Agriculture
-India-Pakistan situation
-Time to settle affairs
-Matckevich’s forthcoming conversation with Brezhnev
-India-Pakistan situation
-Brezhnev’s efforts and views
-[Yahya Khan]
-Formal reply
-Brezhnev
Closing remarks
-The President’s upcoming meeting in Moscow, May 1972
-[Gifts]
-Dobrynin
-Best wishes from the President
Matskevich and Vorontsov left at 4:33 pm.
Meeting with USSR
-Significance of meeting
-Outcome
State Department
USSR-US relations
-Status
India-Pakistan situation
-PRC
-Pakistan ambassador [Agha Hilaly]
-Ceasefire
-Possible withdrawal
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 4:33 pm.
Photographs of Vorontsov
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 4:41 pm.
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 634-12 (cont.)
India-Pakistan situation
-US involvement
-Potential diplomatic losses
-Pakistan ambassador
-Brezhnev letter
-Potential agreement between the US and USSR
-Possible negotiations with the Awami League
-Yahya Khan
-PRC
-USSR and US treaties
-Complex in nature
-West Pakistan
-Attempt to end the conflict
-Vorontsov
-Kissinger’s view on India-Pakistan
-Carrier movements
-Strait of Malacca
-Meeting with the Washington Special Actions Group [WSAG]
-Evacuation
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 56s ]
INDIA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**************************************************************************
-WSAG meeting
-Meeting with Matskevich and Vorontsov
-Significance
-President’s policy
-Action by the President
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 634-12 (cont.)
-European security conference
-Middle East
-SALT
-Trade
-USSR
-Risk involved
-US bureaucracy
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 37s ]
INDIA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**************************************************************************
-WSAG meeting
-The President’s attitude
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 14s ]
INDIA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
**************************************************************************
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 634-12 (cont.)
Kissinger left at 4:41 pm.