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.