Message
from President Nixon to Soviet General Secretary Brezhnev/1/
/1/
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 492,
President's Trip Files, Dobrynin/Kissinger, 1971,
Vol. 8. No classification marking. A handwritten note on the message indicates
it was sent via the hot line. According to Kissinger's memoirs, the message was
drafted by Kissinger and Haig and represented the
first use by the Nixon administration of the hot line communication channel
between
Mr.
General Secretary:
I have
just received your interim message/2/ concerning the grave situation in the
Indian Subcontinent.
/2/
Document 284.
However,
after delaying for 72 hours in anticipation of your reply to my conversation
with Minister Matskevich and Counsellor
Vorontsov/3/ I had set in train certain moves in the United Nations Security
Council at the time mentioned to Counsellor Vorontsov. These cannot now be reversed. I must also note
that the Indian assurances still lack any concreteness.
/3/
See Document 257.
I am still
prepared to proceed along the lines set forth in my letter of December 10,/4/ as well as in the conversations with your chargé d'affaires Vorontsov, and my talk
with your Agriculture Minister.
/4/
Document 269.
In view of
the urgency of the situation and the need for concerted action I propose that
we continue closest consultations through established confidential channels. I
cannot emphasize too strongly that time is of the essence to avoid consequences
neither of us want.
Source: Document 286, volume XI,