Transcript
of Telephone Conversation between the President's Assistant for National
Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Deputy Prime Minister Bhutto/1/
/1/
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 370,
Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking. No time
is on the transcript. Kissinger was in
HAK: Mr.
Bhutto. I have talked to the President and here is our view on the subject.
First, in the light of all we have done, it is absolutely essential that we are
not exposed to Chinese charges that we are not doing enough. Because if that is
going to be the charge why should we do anything? I mean we are standing alone
against our public opinion, against our whole bureaucracy at the very edge of
legality.
Bhutto: Uh
huh, I realize that fully.
HAK: So
the Chinese just have to be made to understand what we are doing.
Bhutto:
They will . . . .
HAK: Now
secondly, if we do not hear from the Soviets tomorrow by tomorrow morning in
reply to the presentations we have made to them, we will then go to the
Security Council with a strong statement that a continuation of the war would
be a naked case of aggression, and we would support our original resolution. I
mean we will make the public statement, in that case
there can be no doubt where we stand.
Bhutto:
Yes.
HAK: Now
after our original resolution is defeated, however, Mr. Minister, then I think you have to decide whether you want to go to a simple
ceasefire resolution, because it isn't that we don't want to help you, it is
that we want to preserve you. It is all very well to stand for principles, but
finally we have to assure your survival. And that is the Chinese problem. We
are heartbroken about what has happened, but our immediate problem now is what
I told you this morning to assure your survival, so what we will do is first
thing by tomorrow noon, [if] we have not an agreement on this procedure which
we discussed this morning, then we will go to the Security Council (I mean we
haven't put that procedure to the Russians, but if you do not get a
satisfactory reply from them about ending the war) in any event we will go to
the Security Council.
Bhutto:
That meets tomorrow evening or Monday./2/
/2/
December 13.
HAK: We will
say tomorrow afternoon and we will go to them along the lines of our discussion
this morning supporting a withdrawal part of a resolution.
Bhutto: I
follow.
HAK: If
after that is defeated, we should decide what you want. But we will make clear
public statement tomorrow either at the Security Council or from the White
House, depending on how it is played about Indian aggression. So your Chinese
friends and our new Chinese acquaintances will have no reason to question where
we stand.
Bhutto:
No, but I hope you don't misunderstand.
(Call is
interrupted by Haig-HAK tells Haig
he'll call back.)
Bhutto:
But when the Ambassador mentioned it to you, I then took up the phone again. I
impressed on them that we are completely satisfied-
HAK: No,
no I am not complaining about-look you are in a very sad situation, and you are
coming in at a late moment and we have all the sympathy for you, but one way
you can help us is to make clear to the Chinese that we have been strong
supporters.
Bhutto: I
will make that abundantly clear.
HAK: Also,
our Fleet will be crossing the Straits of Malacca tomorrow night, and then it
will be partly visible.
Bhutto: I
will make it abundantly clear to them tomorrow as (tape is blank at this point)
. . . I want you to know that it is deeply appreciated what you are doing and
we are eternally beholden.
HAK: Well,
we are doing it for ourselves too.
Bhutto:
You will see the affects of that when this crisis is over how we will express
our appreciation.
HAK: No
you don't have to worry about that, Mr. Prime Minister. We know where our
friends are and you have been a loyal friend.
Bhutto:
And you see the question is all that I said was we never want to think of
bypassing you nor do we want to think of bypassing them.
HAK: No,
you must be honest with both of us. My remarks were directed to them, not to
you.
Bhutto:
Yes, but I also want you to be clear in your mind, please as far as we are
concerned, we know you have helped us and that in this crucial and critical
hour, you stood by us. That to us means a great deal.
HAK: And
we will continue to help and we do more tomorrow.
Bhutto:
Fine, thank you so much.
HAK:
Goodbye and the best to you.
Bhutto:
Hello, hello, hello. Gen. Raza says he is coming to
HAK: Well,
yes, he should call me in the morning. It will be a hectic morning, but I will
see him.
Source: Document 280, volume XI,