CHAPTER TWO
“Public Posture versus
Private Understanding”
November 2 to November 21, 1974
It took Bush nearly a full month to complete his formal calls on Beijing’s diplomatic corps and China’s leadership. He remained optimistic that his personal style might yet win favor with the policymakers he met, though the initial enthusiasm of his arrival had clearly begun to fade. He worried incessantly about the state of Sino-American relations during these weeks, especially given Henry Kissinger’s impending visit at the close of November. Kissinger would arrive directly from a Soviet-American summit in Vladivostok. Bush’s time during November was consumed not only with preparations for the secretary’s arrival but also with fending off queries from his diplomatic colleagues, who were eager to discern what the visit might entail. They were forever taking the pulse of Sino-American relations, Bush lamented in his diary—but then again so was he. “Many people here think our policy has deteriorated with China,” Bush related to his diary. “I don’t think so. . . . How far we move ahead will depend on events in the next few months, but to say that the policy is deteriorated or gone backwards is simply not accurate, and yet it seems to be becoming the sophisticated thing to say.”
As the diary and the cables he sent back to Washington clearly show, it was during this period that Bush became firmly convinced that some positive sign was needed to demonstrate progress, to show the world that the two powers were indeed on the right path to solving their problems and normalizing their relations. Just what that positive step might be, without yielding too much to Beijing, he did not yet know. The cables are most revealing for the understanding they offer of Bush’s political approach to diplomacy and of his penchant for synchronizing rhetoric and policy.
Bush also entertained several visiting delegations from the United States during these weeks, as well as a routine State Department inspection team. He experienced firsthand the frequent civilian critique of the slow pace of Sino-American relations, which he so deeply feared. Many found fault with Washington’s policies, though he had little patience for their complaints. “One should stand up for his country and make damn sure the Chinese understand the workings of the country,” he told his journal. “But groups persist in feeling that they can solve all the diplomatic problems if only they are left out of the clutches of the U.S. Government.”
Bush’s November was a period of work touched by the first frustrations with his difficult assignment. Most vexing was the disconnect he perceived between official public Chinese criticisms of American policy—which he subsequently termed “cannons of rhetoric” in a nod to the phrase his Chinese hosts frequently employed—and the more conciliatory tone he repeatedly heard when speaking privately with Chinese officials. This disconnect simply made little sense to Bush, who feared the impact of such harsh Chinese language on American public opinion, and in turn on Washington’s freedom of action in the diplomatic arena. “They [Chinese policymakers] don’t realize that this eventually will not help our policy at all. They must feel that they must make brownie points with the Third World and we will understand. But if Americans focused on what they were saying they wouldn’t understand, unless they were in on all the policy decisions. They ought to knock it off but they don’t seem to want to.” This disparity between rhetoric and policy, which Bush disdained in favor of a more open style of diplomacy, would befuddle him throughout his entire time in Beijing.
[Saturday, November 2, 1974.] Had lunch at home for the inspectors who are visiting at the residence.1 Excellent, multicourse meal. Followed by a walking tour of the spectacular Forbidden City. Blanche Anderson took us first to the top of the Peking Hotel where one gets a vast sweeping view of the Forbidden City roofs giving an idea of the magnitude of the thing. The weather was delightfully warm. That evening we went to a dinner dance given by Akwei of Ghana. He apparently has been the leader in the diplomatic community for injecting a little sociability into the diplomatic community via dancing. He has a hi-fi set rigged up, a table overflowing with Western food, a young son whose eyes sparkled and who did a little dancing himself and seemed like one of our kids when asked to run the tape recorder or something. A charming, vivacious wife, and a lot of friends. The party was a going-away party for the Austrian ambassador who keeps bitching to Barbara about how bad things are here and for Makonnen of Ethiopia who is going back to a very uncertain fate.2 I asked him about another Makonnen who was my colleague at the UN and then Prime Minister.3 He indicated that he was in serious trouble. Holdridge fears that this Makonnen may meet the same fate.
Sunday, November [3, 1974]. Went to the church service again. Total in parish was 20 (maximum). We came back and then on a beautiful, warm sunny day went to the Great Wall in two trucks. A hazardous ride, unbelievable. Going around blind curves. Honking like mad. Pushing pony carts and various forms of decrepit-looking vehicles off to the side. We climbed to the top of the left-hand side of the wall. A real workout, tough on the legs, but exhilarating when one gets through. We had been told that it might be windy and very very viciously cold but it was neither. We must have hit a lucky day. It is hard to describe the spectacle of the wall. I can just hear a whole bunch of coolies sitting around and the foreman coming and saying to them, “Men, we got a new project. We are going to build a wall, yep—2,000 miles. OK, lets hear it for the engineers. Let’s get going on the job.” What a fantastic undertaking. We then drove down and had a picnic near one of the tombs. All by ourselves in a courtyard. The sun was out. I sat in my shirt-sleeves and we ate a delicious picnic. A kind of a sweet and sour fish. Excellent fried chicken. Lots of hard boiled eggs. The inevitable tasty soup. The only thing we forgot was ice so the beer was warm, but we had worked hard enough walking up to the top so that we devoured about six bottles of it. It’s a heavy beer and I find it makes me sleepy but it’s awful good. We then went to the Dingling Tomb and looked around there.4 Plenty of exercise climbing up and down. When we got home at about 5 o’clock I totally collapsed. Took a hot bath and fell asleep till 8, almost as though drugged. We got up and had a dinner consisting of a vodka martini and caviar—great dinner. Caviar—they have a big shipment of caviar into the Friendship Store.5 It is very good caviar and it is cheap—something like 3 ounces for one yuan. We bought several pounds of the stuff and froze it. I understand it is OK if you defrost it once. There is time to do some reading here but not as much as I thought there would be. I think I have finished most of the important Chinese calls now and Monday we will concentrate more on the diplomatic community.
Friday, November [1], we went to the Algerian reception. The first time Americans had attended a diplomatic reception here. It was the talk of the town. The Algerian ambassador looked like he was going to collapse. And at the Akwei party this was the subject. Called on the Romanian ambassador. Took my language lessons. Called on the Egyptian ambassador.6 Then had a fascinating visit with Zhu Muzhi, Director of the New China News Agency [the Xinhua News Agency or NCNA].7 In my discussion with the head of the New China News Agency he mentioned the fact that he had visited with Wes Gallagher in New York.8 I asked him where Wes Gallagher’s proposal stood to get wire service people in China. He completely stonewalled me. It is amazing how you can ask a question and get no response whatsoever—just move on to some other topic—even something as obvious as talking about the weather. I also tried to make a point about getting some good entertainer like Bob Hope into China so he can present a favorable side of China for the United States mass market.9 This point was not clear to the head of the NCNA either, because he started talking about “Well, we’ve had acrobats and others travel to the United States, etc.” They simply do not understand what I was talking about when I talked about a Hope special, something like the one he did in Russia where he went and did a program with the humor self-deprecating but not against the existing regime and something that would be widely reviewed in the United States.10 He did come back and thank me for the suggestions and hoped I would make other suggestions etc., but I gathered that we were just not on the same wavelength.
Note. I am impressed how everybody in China is on time for appointments. Our driver will circle the block so that he will pull up at exactly the appointed hour. When we went into the NCNA office, we were a few minutes late. We went upstairs and there was this horrible smell emerging from one of the latrines. It reminded me of my stop in the latrine at the Great Wall. They have a different standard on this than we do, although in the residence the baths and plumbing are excellent in my view. Water is hot, bathtubs are big.
I enjoyed my visit with the Egyptian ambassador in his tremendous house filled partially with furnishings from the King Farouk era.11 He told me that some of the treasures were prized possessions of King Farouk. He [the ambassador] had been in Peking for six years. Expressed a really believable friendship for the United States and all in all I think we have a good contact here. The same is true for the Romanian. He speaks absolutely no English but because of Romania’s special position I think they will prove to be good friends.12 He is relatively young, active, told me he had been sick, but all in all an attractive fellow. Some of the Eastern Europeans have a marvelous sense of humor. I can’t quite get over yet their serving cognac in the morning meeting. They did have a little caviar with it. So who’s to complain!
Note. I have been trying to have all the USLO families to luncheon. I think it’s a good deal. We get to know them. One commented to me that she had never seen the upstairs at USLO. It is private, it is our residence, but in the final analysis it is government property and I think it is well that they understand how we live here.
Note. Fred looks grayer, blacker now. He’ll need a bath. We got our first mail of any size. A great letter from Dorothy.13 And one from Herbie Walker.14 God, news from home means a lot here. Inspectors are here. All during Ambassador Ed Clark’s very good presentation to our whole staff in the residence living room Fred was eating on a half-destroyed rubber hamburger. I put him outside but he kept scratching to get in during the meeting to the joy of a few USLOers in the back row. I am going to try to make my way through the diplomatic corps in calls, although some who are bitching about Peking really should not get a lot of attention. I want to deal with those who can help us learn more. One of our men had an incident at the Tombs yesterday. He was stopped by a PLA man as he drove with his front wheels just past the line that says “no foreigners pass here.” He had not intended to violate any laws. He was flagged down by a PLAer. He stopped “just over the line.” A two-and-a-half-hour hassle followed when finally other officers arrived and he was permitted to leave after a thorough interrogation. Here he sits in the middle of a field being berated by PLAers. Not a happy arrangement. But it shows you the other side of the friendship, banquets and great decency. There is this other regimented, inflexible, unreasonable side. No question about it. Another example. I asked for a map for my office. Mo Morin gave one to one of the Chinese to put on a frame.15 The carpenter came back and berated Morin saying that Taiwan was a different color from the rest of China and therefore the map was bad, etc.16 This process went on for quite a while and Mo could do nothing but take it.
Tuesday, November 5[, 1974]. Election Day. I think back to the whole political climate during the last two years—my many predictions on Today Show, CBS Morning News, Face the Nation, Issues and Answers, Meet the Press, etc. about how we would do in the elections. Here it all is. I kept saying that Watergate will not have an effect but now the pardon and of course the economic situation seems to be the big issues.17 I worry about my close friends. I wonder how we’ll do. Soon we’ll know.18 I had a good visit with the Sudanese Ambassador, Al Zainulabidin.19 I couldn’t help but raise the point that I had been in Khartoum and stayed with Curt Moore, the man who was killed.20 We talked about the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization]. I could see great discomfort on the part of the ambassador, but he shouldn’t have misinterpreted the remark because there I was calling on him. I still feel we can get good information from some of these African ambassadors by getting out to see them. Lunch at John and Martha Holdridge’s, a beautiful spread with endless Chinese dishes tastefully served. Henry Brandon and his attractive wife, journalists, are here.21 I had my fourth or fifth Chinese language lesson and it is extremely difficult but oddly enough some of the sounds are beginning to click.
Beginning to get a few comments in on the forthcoming visit of the Secretary of State. I expect this place will be turned upside down. I got a nice letter from him in response to a letter I had written him inviting Nancy Kissinger to stay with us should she want to.22 Several meetings with the inspectors. Ed Clark is a thorough, decent guy. Having had an embassy, he understands I am sure some of the problems. It is difficult to define what our function is here. How much leeway we think we should have. How much initiative we should take, etc. I am beginning to formulate some ideas on this. I know we should reach out more than we have reached out in the past, but clearly any of these decisions will be made by the secretary and, given the overall perspective he has, it is best that the really important ones be handled on that end. I feel relaxed about this and I think the whole thing is going to work. Weather—gray, sun breaking through, not cold, plenty of mail, lots of dictation. Days are full and go quickly. All those books I brought over here will remain unread, at least a lot of them will. End of November 5.
[Wednesday,] November 6[, 1974]. An anxious day on account of the elections. With the predictions becoming very clear after a phone call from Fred Zeder (interrupted) and a phone call from Dean Burch with Peter Roussel and Jennifer on the line.23 Very clear. Heard every word both ways. Wiley Mayne went down along with others on the Judiciary.24 Sandman, Maraziti, Dennis, Froehlich.25 Wiley meaning something to me as a friend. It is so hard to assess things, to get the flavor, to keep in touch from this far out. The day was an interesting one with a discussion with Mr. Wang, head of CCPIT [China Council on the Promotion of International Trade], the trade man. Then a courtesy call with Ambassador Gódor of Hungary.26 A very sad fellow. Politician from Hungary sent here not as a reward obviously. Discouraged. Disgruntled. No access, no travel. Declining trade. The only bright spot was the fact that he had a very pretty American-speaking interpreter.
The language lessons are taking on more dimension and I am gradually making some headway, but heavens it’s tough. Wednesday afternoon off—after lunch with our security guards—we are trying to have everyone in the mission to lunch—we played a little tennis.27 Still warm enough. And then went on the national day circuit. Going to Ambassador Tolstikov’s USSR’s national day in their palatial mission.28 A total jam of cars. Mr. Guo our driver has terrific eyes. He reminds me of Earl Bue in the Texas Commerce Garage. He can spot people coming miles away. There are all kinds of Russians around trying to get the cars out of this congested parking lot. I wandered around, spoke to Mr. Zhou and Mr. Li, the head of the Friendship Association. But the rest of it was seeking out other ambassadors from Africa, Eastern Europe and of course European. These things are deadly but I’m glad we are doing it. Stopped by yet another going-away party for Ambassador Makonnen to a fate unknown in Ethiopia. Sad hors d’oeuvres at the International Club. That kind of sameness to it all that makes me determined to do things differently when we do them. We showed our first movie, Laura, with the two Canadian journalists, Walker and Burns.29 And the wives of Peter Kasanda and Bryce Harland and their kids. I asked Mrs. Kasanda if her kids like dogs. She said, “Oh, yes, she has a nice doggie,” at which Fred came down the stairs and the girl burst into horrendous screams.
[Thursday,] November 7[, 1974]. Called on Zhuang Zedong who is the head of the physical culture and sports commission, a very famous ping-pong champion in China.30 The minute I walked in I could tell I was in the presence of an athlete. He still had a bounce in his step, looked reasonably trim. We talked about different ping-pong grips and the visit was marred only by his giving me a long lecture about the reason for sports was to keep strong because of the million troops on the Northern border etc.31 I like the man. I told him I was very interested in ping-pong. Like all athletes he warmed up to the subject. Told me how with attack shots when you are way back you use the upper part of your arm, when you are fairly close to the table you use the lower part of your arm and when you are in right next to the net you use the wrist. We talked a little bit about exchanges and then just visited on sports in general. Always with a slight political propaganda overtone.
The French Ambassador Manac’h who is leaving came to see me. He is a very seasoned diplomat. He spoke mostly in English, occasionally in French and I began to understand more. I should practice my French more. I know I could master it or at least understand everything he said. His thing is Sihanouk these days and thinks we are wrong on that. Language lessons once a day, five days a week. They are becoming more interesting. I am beginning to catch a little bit on tone. I am beginning to have a feel for it. I like it and Mrs. Tang is terrific. After lunch called on the Yemeni ambassador.32 Reaching out to the smaller countries. Here was a guy who doesn’t get around too much I guess. Very interested and I think appreciative of the fact that the head of the U.S mission came to see him. In any event he was very pleasant and I am glad I did it.
Good news. A memo has appeared saying there is a masseur. Only one yuan for a treatment of 30 minutes to an hour. The Jiaqing Lu House. I also ran into the wife of the ambassador from Denmark, Mrs. Paludan.33 She has been to the man, and says he is great. My neck suddenly went out so everything is falling in line together. I visited with C. J. Wang and wife.34 Dr. C. J. Wang is an American businessman doing a lot of business. He impressed on me the need for American businessmen to be patient. Several times his clients packed up and were about to go to the airport. Wang talked them into staying and sure enough they closed the deal. He has done business with the Siresiree, Westinghouse Air Brake Company (ABCO), and several others. Dinner with the Andersons, Paludans and several others etc. and a very attractive German couple at a Mongolian restaurant where you throw all the ingredients into a sauce. Flop it out onto an open grill in the middle of the room. Throw a raw egg on it, mix it all up and eat it. Fantastic. Ate too much. End of November 7. Still not having heard from the elections. Feeling far away but very much at home. I asked what we could do about Christmas for our Chinese people in the Mission. Would they take a present. The answer is “no.”
[Friday,] November 8[, 1974]. The first really cold day. The wind wasn’t up too much. But the cold really penetrated. I spent an hour with Janus Paludan, the Danish Ambassador, in his brand-new Danish embassy done by Danish architects. It is most attractive and compared most favorably to the standard of Soviet style of some of the others. Many of the embassies were built when Russia was in its total glory here and they reflect the solid kind of a look, which is not unattractive, but not as attractive as the Danish. We went to a luncheon (a going-away) for the Austrian ambassador.35 A disgruntled kind of man but very pleasant. Lunch was at the New Zealanders’ and it was highlighted by the toast. The Austrian, a rather formal but friendly man, tried to describe his relationship with New Zealand. He talked about screwing his way through the earth to New Zealand. This brought out a tremendous guffaw from Richard Akwei, the diplomatic corps swinger apparently, and everybody else was in hysterics too. I am glad to know there is a ribald sense of humor in the diplomatic corps. It was too much and Bar could only think of Johnny Bush and what he would have done with that Austrian-accented toast with the man talking about screwing his way to New Zealand.36
In the afternoon visited with businessman Martin Klingenberg, a young man who just on his own set up contacts with the Chinese.37 He is doing a fair amount of business for Baker Oil Tool and other companies here. The way he got the original contact was simply to call somebody he knew in Canada that he had read had contact with China. He went up and met him and the man liked him. Martin stayed with him and the next thing he knew he had been introduced to Huang Hua and the next thing he knew he had a visa to China. He’s parlayed this into a pretty good business and now he has started on the same track to Cuba. One night out of the clear blue sky he gets a call from Canada from the Cubans there saying that they want him to come to Cuba to talk about trade. He is a young man from Oklahoma. He seems nice. And I was rather amazed. Had my first rubdown in China at the Jiaqing Lu Bath House. Not too clean, but not bad. Walked past a bunch of women fixing their toenails with a machine. And also standing up combing their hair. I wondered if I was in the right place. I was greeted at the door by a man who assured me that I was [in the right place] from the very outset though, and I walked back. He unlocked a private door and there proceeded 45 minutes of jujitsu. He is more of an osteopath than a rubber. But he was very good and the price for 45 minutes was 60 cents. I had neck and back problems, both of which are still there but both are better I think.
University presidents arrive today, but I am sure we will not see them until the end of the visit. So many groups come to China and think that if they see USLO they won’t get to see the real China and that the Chinese would resent our government presence. So many also come here and apologize for their country and point out how China does things much better. I have compared notes with others and I think this is the wrong technique. One should stand up for his country and make damn sure the Chinese understand the workings of the country. But groups persist in feeling that they can solve all the diplomatic problems if only they are left out of the clutches of the U.S. Government. It is a rather fascinating, naive view. I am not sure the university presidents will have this, but I am anxious to see what their thoughts are. Jay Rockefeller and Granville Sawyer are supposedly in the group.38
Inspectors have been here. Ed Clark is a first-class fellow. There seems to be some lack of communication with PRCM [the People’s Republic of China Mission in Washington] and the State Department but nothing too serious right now. China unloaded on us at the World Food Conference in spite of my tactful suggestions to both Qiao and Deng that this not happen. They don’t realize that this eventually will not help our policy at all. They must feel that they must make brownie points with the Third World and we will understand. But if Americans focused on what they were saying they wouldn’t understand, unless they were in on all the policy decisions. They ought to knock it off but they don’t seem to want to.
Many people here think our policy has deteriorated with China. I don’t think so. I am reading sophisticated stories out of Hong Kong both by Greenway and Kingsbury Smith saying this.39 But there was an overanticipation at the beginning and there are no signs of deterioration. How far we move ahead will depend on events in the next few months, but to say that the policy is deteriorated or gone backwards is simply not accurate, and yet it seems to be becoming the sophisticated thing to say. Trade is up, exchanges are back on track. True, the attacks on the U.S. are up, but permission to travel etc. for USLO is in good shape. And I am reasonably relaxed, though not totally so, about where things stand.40 End of November 8.
November 9, [1974,] Saturday. Teddy Youde, the very knowledgeable British ambassador, came to call. Visited with inspectors. Lunch with the staff. I am trying to have all the staff and most of their families to lunch early in our tour here. We are almost through it now, including all the security guards, code clerks. It is one big, fairly close-knit group out here. Afternoon tennis in cold weather pounding my back and neck. Playing with Akwei, a good Pakistani, and an Indian. In the afternoon I read for two hours, something I never did at home. There seems to be time for this but not as much as I thought there would be. Dinner with the Kuwaiti Chargé Qasim and his wife. Like so many they are very interested in the United States. She spends two or three months there a year. Her children, Arabs from Kuwait, go to Pakistani school and also go to Chinese school in China. They speak Chinese fluently.
Sunday[, November 10, 1974]. All day in Tianjin with the McKinleys. We did some shopping. The prices are amazing. $15,000 for a large yellow vase. The prices looked to me like they are put way high. And the old looks very little different from the new. We bought a few odds and ends, little kits, a bead-holding thing, but mainly we looked around. We were the objects of curiosity. Large crowds crowding in around the car. One woman as I opened the door, had her nose stuck up against the glass. Didn’t even notice that I was there. She was so engrossed in looking into the car. Nancy McKinley sitting there. The kids were friendly once you smiled at them. But they just swarmed us. They swarmed so much that the storekeepers would keep them out of the store while we were in there. What a land of contrast. Driving down and back you see the most unbelievable kinds of overloaded carts, overloaded bicycles, no tractors, people out working with hoes, rake, leaf sweepers. The baby horse running along free behind two horses or donkeys in harness. A hundred men by the side of the road loading by hand dirt onto one-wheeled, hand-pulled carts. Hazardous drive back from Tianjin in the evening. No lights of any kind. I once saw two lights coming at us and I thought I was coming near some town. But it was a truck coming our way. Cars turn the lights off as they approach each other. And it is really hazardous. Dark-clad figures are darting in and out of everything. There seems little for the people to do in a city like Tianjin. You wander around the streets looking into stores that have very little merchandise in them. The guide from the China Travel met us. A Mr. Liu took us to a first-class restaurant. We were hustled in typical style upstairs to the isolated room. The food was absolutely fantastic. Many many courses. Four of us ate with wine and the driver and the China travel guy for 37 yuan.
[Monday,] November 11[,1974]. In looking over the international issue of Newsweek I noticed that we still have the same press problem. Speculating on the President Ford’s trip to Vladivostok in Newsweek, there is a mischievous piece about the Vladivostok meeting upsetting the Chinese.41 “No doubt the issue was raised privately when George Bush, the new head of the U.S. Liaison Office in Peking, saw Deputy Premier Teng Hsiao Ping [Deng Xiaoping] late last week. And American officials admit that even Henry Kissinger will receive less than an enthusiastic welcome when he arrives in Peking later this year. Says one Chinese, Premier Chou [Zhou Enlai] will certainly interrogate Kissinger closely during his forthcoming visit.” The fact of the matter [is], Deng did not raise the matter. Our inquiries through other ambassadors show that the Vladivostok issue is not demonstratively sensitive.42 Kissinger might not even see Zhou for substantive talks and all in all, the story is not accurate.43
Observations. Some groups want to come to China and don’t want to see anybody at USLO, thinking this will compromise their ability to get the true facts on China from their host groups. One friendship or guardian group, leftist in the U.S., simply told Nancy McKinley, “You’re from USLO. We don’t want to have anything to do with you.” Another incident. This leftist group at the Hong Kong border sat observing Ambassador Bruce taking pictures and then finally in a gesture of defiance sang “The Workers Internationale.”44 They looked like idiots but I guess because they are so disdained in the United States they felt here above all they could show their solidarity and put Bruce and others on the defensive.
One wonders how happy the families are. Yes, they are being fed. But what do they do? The workers along the Tianjin Highway look healthy. There is some running and playing and laughter. Plans are beginning for the Secretary’s visit. It will be announced today. This place is beginning to stir. Diplomats have all been speculating on it for a long long time. And indeed I feel it has been leaked. Snow Sunday in Tianjin. And snow in Peking. A little on the ground but melting fast early Monday morning. There are not many laughs around here.45 It is amazing how fast one gets out of touch with the details of the domestic scene in the United States. Sunday Mr. Liu, our travel agency guide, would not eat with us. He goes off and eats with Guo, the driver, in another room, leaving the McKinleys and Bushes in banquet-like splendor by ourselves.
The food is clearly the matrix between present and past. The restaurant in Tianjin was built as a restaurant well over 50 years ago. The proprietor obviously takes great pride in the food. It was fantastic. Painstakingly prepared obviously. And thoughtfully presented. The food doesn’t seem to know any ideology nor have the ideologists insisted on changing the eating patterns.
Cabbages, cabbages everywhere. Getting ready to bring them in for storage. They are in the streets, in piles for markets, they are on trucks and bicycles—they are hanging stuffed out of grates in windows. A man walking along the street with cabbage stuffed out of one pocket and a big fish sticking out of the other. What would this society do in terms of conventional warfare? The roads are all bottlenecked. I expect all the oxcarts and people on bikes would be shoved to the side and then it would be OK for fast movement of men and equipment.
Observation. China is going to have to determine how much to attack us and how much not to. I have subtly made the point with Deng and Qiao—not so subtly as a matter of fact. But then at the World Food Conference there they go, “Colonialism, imperialism, superpowers—main cause of the world food [crisis] is long-term plunder by these.”46 In talking to the leadership I get the feeling they feel the third [world] countries must increase their supplies. We told them we would be willing to help them on that but then there is the attack, exploitation, etc. Population in China seems to have a problem here. They talk about growth in certain areas. Publicly they take pride that their ability to handle increased population is because they have increased their agricultural output, but privately they do a pretty good job on population although the figure given me by Deng is 2 percent which isn’t fantastic at all—given the big numbers we are dealing with.47
Dilemma. Public posture versus private understanding versus private position. Enormous complexity here, and something that eventually can get our policy in trouble or carry it a long, long way.
[Tuesday, November 12, 1974.]48 Continued the calls. We talked about overseas schools. Right now there are four kids projected for next year too.49 It is hard to know. We can’t get too high visibility with cooperative schools between other English-speaking nations because the Chinese would not want this. We can’t use the International Club because they don’t want to encourage this commencement of a separate educational institution. School is now held in John Holdridge’s lobby to his apartment, taught by Holdridge’s daughter and another kid who is an assistant.50 The Norwegian ambassador had a little school built into his embassy complex. They have a teacher there for just two children. It is one of the problems we have got to solve. We have a teacher coming in for next year. It is the wife of one of our new people and perhaps she can handle it. Ambassador Pauls, German ambassador here—first ambassador to Israel, formerly in Washington, received me at his beautifully decorated mission.51 Germany is fourth in trade, having been replaced by us. Japan, Hong Kong, U.S., Germany. Pauls’ wife is unhappy here. Quite social. There is no question that it is a real adjustment. Pauls is one of their best diplomats. And he is interesting to talk to. The language lesson. I am intrigued with the tones but I am not making much headway. Lunch with the Danish, Anne and Janus Paludan, in their beautiful embassy. And then went to call on the Norwegian Ravne who was the deputy at the UN.52 I am amazed at the UN contacts. First Peking duck dinner at the Sick Duck.53 Guo took us to the Big Duck. We were received regally until we told them that we were Americans. Then they raced after Guo across the street in the cold, winter air, brought him back in. A couple of phone calls followed and we found we were at the wrong place. Holdridges were having a farewell dinner for the inspectors at the Sick Duck and it was beautifully served. Most attractive.
Big Question. How do you get balance between the critical stories that are coming out in Hong Kong, super critical, about the U.S. Mission not having access, etc. (there seems to be a large number of them right now) and the fact that we do want to see progress out of the Kissinger visit which was announced at 1 o’clock on the twelfth. And thus want the Chinese to know that we are not overly happy with things. Interesting dilemma.54
Tuesday, November 12. A call on the Swiss Ambassador, Natural.55 At the last ambassadorial residence in downtown Peking. A delightful Chinese-style house, formerly owned by Mr. Shoemaker of the United States. It is filled with Chinese art objects and has a charm that is great. Language lessons—complexity of it all intrigues me. I can mimic Mrs. Tang’s tones but I am not moving very fast. A visit with Peruvian ambassador in his apartment, used as an embassy.56 Mr. Valdez seems pretty far to the left. Good English and a nice cordial man. The objectivity seems to have vanished however. Reception we had for two Chinese groups—the photosynthesis study and the pharmacological theory study group —both of the Chinese medical association, both heading for the United States. We are trying to have them come before they go and hopefully get them when they come back. It increases our contacts with the Chinese. And we may pick up tidbits from time to time. After that Barbara and I attended a banquet that the U.S. linguists were giving for their hosts, having completed their tour of China. It was at the Hunan Restaurant. Very nice. Many toasts etc. The linguists genuinely feel that the Chinese are doing a good job on language reform. Highly complex when you consider the numbers of dialects and the enormity of the population.
I continue to wonder about how big this USLO ought to be. Should we have an agricultural person here? I don’t at this point feel that we need a military attaché, as at other embassies, because of Chinese sensitivity.57
[Wednesday,] November 13, [1974]. The inspectors left. Called on ambassador of Netherlands, Vixseboxse.58 Lunch with peppery, pushy, interesting Bryce Harland of New Zealand. He presses enormously for information. He is useful in telling us things. He is vitally interested in his work here in China. Young, enthusiastic, and terribly interested. Called on Vice Chairman Ding Guoyu of the Peking Revolutionary Committee.59 He has the responsibilities of mayor plus the responsibilities for schools, embassies and many other things. He was very forthcoming. I was impressed with him. He looks confident, willing to discuss politics to a degree. And problems like pollution, traffic, subways, mass transit, etc. I want to see him again. And he indicated that would be OK with him. A quick bike ride. Muscles aching. Glad to get the exercise. And then a good meeting where we invited the university presidents. An hour before their hosts—the Chinese hosts—came, we had a good discussion with them. They are a most prestigious group and they seemed to enjoy it. I got John Holdridge to run down some of the policy matters. Don Anderson the same. All in all they assured me afterwards it was worth their while. They seem more realistic than the linguists. They were somewhat amazed at the lack of facilities in the physics labs. They wonder where we go from here. One wondered whether we couldn’t have a quid pro quo. They [the Chinese] want things from us and we should only give them those things provided we get something in return. I used the example of the UN where we started off cautiously in our consultations and eventually we learned more from them. Good day. I am a little tired hustling from appointment to appointment but it wouldn’t be forever. Got some mail and that sure makes a difference. End of November 13.
Thursday, November 14[, 1974]. Called on Spanish and Yugoslavian ambassadors. Language lessons. Quiet lunch for a change. Interesting visit with the President of Kellogg, Mr. Latin.60 They are building a petrochemical plant. Met a young couple, the Smiths, she from Rosenberg, Texas. They are about to head out for Southwest China. Fascinating mission. Living way out alone. If I were young I would like to be doing just that. Note the possibility exists that maybe one of our kids can go to Peking University to their international school. They would live there five days a week and get to come home on weekends. Neil or Marv might want to try it though I don’t know if it would be right for them.61 Farewell to Ambassador Leitner of Austria at his residence. Retiring, sad, glad to be leaving China, wondering what he did. What [do] all these people do in terms of real substance? But the diplomatic corps seems lively and pleasant. Qiao Guanhua was there. I thanked him for the banquet and told him I would like to have him over but it might be better to do it after the Kissinger trip. Went off to the banquet for the university presidents. An impressive group of eleven with nine of them presidents. Roger Heyns in charge.62 Mr. Zhou Peiyuan is the Vice Chairman of the People’s Institute for Foreign Affairs, a very distinguished gentleman who had been to the States years ago.63 Gentleman is the proper word. We had a beautiful banquet at the Cheng Tu Restaurant.
Note. What can we do to make the Kissinger trip a success, to show progress, to show that things are moving ahead?64
Note. The policy matters are tightly held [by Kissinger]. I am wondering if it is good for our country to have as much individual diplomacy. Isn’t the President best served if the important matters are handled by more than one person? End of November 14.
I have a lot of appointments, but not that many, and yet I am getting a little tired.
[Friday,] November 15[, 1974]. Now I can understand what people were trying to tell me about the weather. A light snow came down. But what was most noticeable was the icy cold. I called on the Minister of Public Health, Liu Xiangping, in a beautiful Chinese building near the lake, the north side of Peking.65 It was ice cold. She greeted us wearing a big heavy overcoat. She took it off. Why, I don’t know. The room was ice cold. I wolfed down about three cups of tea and that helped. She is an interesting lady, a member of the Central Committee. She gave me a good deal of the Party line at the outset and it was sticky going, but then we talked a little politics and talked about how the health ministry works both through the bureaucracy and through the party and it was very interesting. She warmed up considerably. I spent the morning talking to Ambassador Tolstikov of the Soviet Union. Most interesting fellow but he is kind of isolated, living in this massive white marbled palace. There is no thaw there between the Soviet Union and China or if there is he damn sure hasn’t been clued in on it. Language lessons continued. I do better alone. Hope Bar will get transferred out of the class. She wants to but I must say I am a little self-conscious.
Lunch with Governor and Mrs. Shapp of Pennsylvania.66 He was here on a private visit. I gave him some old Herald Tribunes and I noticed that wonderful streak that we politicians have. He devoured it eagerly as we were talking. All about the elections and stuff. He and Bar went shopping. Visited with Gene Theroux and Sandy Randt of the NCUSCT [National Council for United States–China Trade] talking about trade with China.67 They are finding it difficult to get the Chinese to send a group to the United States as they agreed to do. They really feel it would help China sell more but it hasn’t taken place.
Note. The pace here is much more than I thought it would be. I think after our calls it will calm down. The diplomatic calls are taking a lot of time and so have the protocol calls. Today Qiao Guanhua was named Foreign Minister. Very good as far as I personally am concerned and I think as far as the U.S. Government is concerned.68 He is articulate, communicative, frank and all in all a good man. We are going to have a large turnover soon and this whole mission’s character will be recast in six to eight months. It will be very interesting. End of November 15.
Saturday the sixteenth [November 16, 1974]. It is almost like school. Wednesday afternoon off, Saturday afternoons off. I look forward to them. Saturday the catch-up day. One call: the Egyptian ambassador came to call on me. Return call. It was rather deadly though. Everyone I call on feels he must come call on me. I received him in the den of the residence. Coffee and tea. It really is rather pleasant. Talk swung over to the Middle East, to Kissinger’s visit, to the relations between China and the United States. Everyone is debating that. Most get the embassy gossip that the relations have deteriorated. There is a standard question in the diplomatic circles.69
Are the Chinese mad because Ford is meeting Brezhnev in Vladivostok?70 Vladivostok with its history of antagonism between China and Russia. The Soviet ambassador had told me that Russia had changed the names of all its cities. He had assured me that the Chinese were probably sore about Vladivostok but allowed that “no Chinese had told me that.” The Egyptian raised a question. I asked him if anyone had told him they were sore—any Chinese official had told him the Chinese were upset—and he said “no.” He had heard it in the diplomatic community. This is true for almost every ambassador I have talked to. There is a story out now by Wallach of Hearst papers saying that Kissinger had told him that Kissinger presumably had checked this out with Huang Zhen as to the meeting place.71 I wouldn’t be surprised.72
In the afternoon took a long trip past the Forbidden City, near the drum tower on bicycles, a long, flat, cool but pleasant bike ride. You see more color in Peking when you’ve been here a while. You look for it. Child’s scarf. A flower. Whatever. The walls along the streets are gray and everything remains gray but there is color. The contrasts are enormous. There will be a waft of marvelous odors from cooking and then a few yards further some horrendous stench from garbage or sewage. In the stores some of the packaging of Chinese goods is rather pretty—bright reds, simple, clean-looking labels. But they call their things outrageous names, or names that would be outrageous for the American market. White Elephant is a great name. Double Happiness for ping-pong equipment. Fu Kung for a hammer . . . might not be too inappropriate come to think of it. Cycling back I stopped at the International Club—tennis courts are still not open. Drying, drying, drying they keep telling me. Oh, for one of those great surfaces. I stopped in the barbershop—twenty-minute shoulder, head and neck massage and a shampoo and a haircut, all 60 cents U.S.
Saturday night a party at the Ruges.73 Mostly reporters, press corps. Attractive, young. I was the only ambassador there. Governor Shapp came and John Burns of Canada was very nice to him. I told Burns he might get a story out of him because Shapp says weird things, like when it was his turn to toast at a dinner given in his honor, he got up and said he didn’t see why Nixon should be respected. Nixon had been a big buddy of Chiang Kai-shek, and Nixon had not after all done much. I was shocked at this, knowing the Chinese revered Nixon and have really never quite understood driving him from office. Shapp is a mixture at times of a kind of an open, gregarious and almost with a kind of shy quality and other times making outrageous statements like telling the Governors Conference that he felt we might not even have free elections in 1976. Funny rich little guy. Young marrieds in this group at the party were very attractive. There were two students there. One German. One Canadian. From the Chinese schools. The Canadian was returning thoroughly disillusioned, highly critical of the Chinese. The German also saw a lot of bad things and he had already advised his government that students should return for a couple of months every year. Otherwise they come home hating China. On the other hand he had nice things to say about living conditions. Adding, “I was in the Army so it’s not bad for me.”
[Sunday, November 17, 1974]. Sunday, our little church service. Head count—two African ladies, one African man, three Canadians, two Bushes, four Chinese in the audience, and one preacher. They sing the most wonderful hymns. “Nearer My God to Thee,” “Holy, Holy, Holy.” All the old favorites. It is a nice touch. Did some shopping after church. Mr. and Mrs. Augustine Marusi, he is chairman of Borden Company, came for lunch.74 Delightful, outgoing people. The Chinese wanted to buy powdered milk from him but they also discussed selling it under their own label. No mention of Borden Company. He had been to the Canton Fair and was back up for just a couple of days. I had my first cold so I turned down going to dinner with them. Lots of telegrams coming in for the Kissinger party (about 46 people). Press, security, communications, schedule, room requirements, banquets and return banquets. Slept for an hour in the afternoon. Quiet dinner at home.
How are the kids? Things are so different.
Cold today though the sky was clear. The wind was up. Bites right through you. Jeff Lilley gave Fred a great big bone and Fred’s personality has changed.75 Anyone that gets within twenty yards of him gets a growl. Lilley and son came for ping-pong Saturday afternoon on the Double Happiness table. Two real nice people.
Observation. It is annoying beyond belief to read the attacks in the Red News on the United States. China feels it must attack the United States—imperialist, exploiter of small nations, etc. I see Qiao Guanhua. I just have this inner feeling that these Chinese leaders do not subscribe to that view in its entirety. Perhaps I am wrong. But I have heard them talk enough to know they don’t believe that. How does one balance that with their desire for frankness in dealing, their desire for openness, their desire to “keep their word” etc. Also would China understand it if we struck back in these areas, diplomatic fora, against China. We don’t do it and I am not convinced we should. Certainly in every instance. But I am wondering how they would feel if we attacked their closed system, no freedom of press, without taking away from their many accomplishments, the total lack of individual freedom. There is no point in debating whether China has made progress or not. They have. Good progress in many ways. But one of them has not been human rights or individual freedoms. The children are taken away to communes, property rights are almost totally restricted, and the state is the master, and criticism is very restricted unless orchestrated from the bottom. One has a closed society. They are much more delicate about it. There is a certain deceptive gentleness, culture, and kindness that sets them apart from the Soviets. But it is hard to tell the real . . . [sentence trails off].
Saw Elie Boustany of Lebanon at his apartment at San Li Tun.76 Some of these countries have essentially one-person embassies. Boustany has one assistant. They have little contact with the Chinese. He is a delightful person. Friendly to the United States, spent some time all around the world. Nice conversationalist but really without too spectacular an insight on China. Mexican ambassador, that afternoon.77 A very young, dynamic, attractive, good English-speaking individual, is different. They have a staff of about nine and he loves to travel. He is enthused over China. He has his children and wife in school. He sees the shortcomings but he also is an advocate of the good things. Governor Milton Shapp gave a going-away banquet. He had Mr. Zhou of the University of Peking Foreign Affairs Institute, the same man who was the honored guest at the university presidents. He is a delightful man, speaks English, lived in Los Angeles for four years. His wife came in a red brocade jacket. He is very precise, advocating the system under Chairman Mao. I asked him about Professor Fairbank of Harvard.78 He indicated, as have many other Chinese officials, that Fairbank is not considered too objective. He talked about Edgar Snow and how he was most revered.79 How some of his ashes were buried on the campus at the university. How he stood next to Mao in the People’s Square on one October first.80 The banquet in terms of food was the biggest we have attended. The courses went on and on and on. I am sure Milton Shapp said, “Just give me the best one, whatever it is.” He also produced a bottle of champagne which was politely received and indeed consumed fairly widely.
In a computer printout on our trade with China we have a very favorable balance, over 10 to 1.81 And this worries us. They do not seem eager or in a hurry to take the steps that would help their trade—sending delegations to the U.S., special packaging seminars etc. They buy from us what they need and I think they are buying things that they might well get better from others, simply because they don’t want to increase the balance nor get a dependency on us. The long protocol lists on the Kissinger trip arrived. I am on the protocol list. Up on the top after Secretary and Mrs. Kissinger. We are debating why this is. Last year the Chief of the USLO was not on the list. John Holdridge raises the point that he wonders if they are including him out on some of this. I hope not. And I would certainly think not.
Tuesday[, November 19, 1974]. A nice return visit from Ambassador Ferenc Gódor of Hungary. Bringing with him a young English-speaking interpreter. An unlikely-looking couple. He has that kind of earthy East European humor that I like. Interested in Kissinger’s visit, interested in a Cambodia solution, interested in Taiwan. Almost a replay when I went to see the Italian ambassador, a man who has been here too long. Was the first Italian ambassador. Feels he has been here long enough. Language seemed interesting today. Our Mr. Sun put on a great lunch for the Romanian Ambassador and his interpreter. I am continually amazed at the man’s artistic talent and pride in his work. He is first class and though I am [not] a connoisseur of Romanian food, I could tell from watching the ambassador [he] thought it was great. Gus Marusi of Borden stopped in again. I took my stock portfolio and took a recent copy of the Herald Tribune and even that was up a little bit. Went home early feeling pretty good. Brunson walked over and said there is an immediate from Kissinger saying Bar could ride home with him. We had been turned down on this in a very gracious, nice way by Scowcroft.82 In this environment it is funny how little things matter. I am getting into some reading now. Weather warm and beautiful. In contrast to some of the icy cold days we have had. I am concerned about our level of trade. Whether it will continue. Saw a report from the Japanese that the Chinese told them they want to cut back on their trade with us. They won’t buy agricultural products anymore from us. That they were offended by what we said at the Rome Food Conference about China buying up grain etc. I don’t believe they will follow this road but if they do it would really knock our trade figures in the hat because agriculture takes care of about 80 percent of it. More planning for Kissinger visit. End of day. Evening off. I am glad.83
[Wednesday,] November 20[, 1974]. Highlight of it was a lovely dinner given by Ambassador Salah El-Abd of Egypt. Both the Egyptian and the Lebanese are very melancholy about peace in the Middle East, this being at a time when there are rumors of increased fighting. Here they are in China but the Middle East predominates all their thinking, understandably. Interesting talk with the Sri Lanka[n] ambassador.84 He has been here four and a half years. He said, “I am considered pro-Communist and pro-Socialist but I am convinced that the Chinese system will have to change. It can’t keep the people happy the way it is.” He talked about more need for freedom. He did say that during the Cultural Revolution there was a lot more openness on matters like sex “by the kids.” One of the officers in their mission was stopped, hauled out of the car and made to read quotations from Chairman Mao. Concluded our lunches for all of the staff. Bicycled in a tremendous headwind downtown and did some shopping. I am impressed with the amount of consumer goods around. The counters are relatively well stocked. Prices for everyday items pretty good. Prices in the craft shop very high. But when it comes to things like face creams, candies, chinaware, and even fairly colorful shirts for women, the shelves are bulging. Photographical equipment appears to be one luxury the people are encouraged to enjoy.
Back to the bathhouse for a return visit. It is funny how the Chinese lessons just in a ten-day period make me at least understand a little bit about what he is saying. Very little I might add. Language is a barrier. We were supposed to be out at the United Arab Republic of Egypt at 7:30 and we end up at the United Arab Republic of Yemen. An enormous communications gap existed.
[Thursday,] November 21[, 1974]. Today we were turned down by the Chinese for our U.S. Information Agency billboard outside the USLO. Most embassies have these billboards and people along the streets stop and look at them. Stare at them. We were told that our situation was different and that it was inappropriate for us to establish a bulletin board. It’s the feeling here that they simply don’t want us to show a lot about the U.S. to their public. They have not even recognized that a man has landed on the moon. Or at least their population is unaware of that. Too bad.85
Yemen ambassador came to call. Middle East, Middle East, Middle East. Little progress in language—numbers. Chest cold for the first time. And everybody tells me this is normal. There is tons of bronchial infection here. “Don’t worry. It will last all winter” etc. It is accepted due to the dust and the dryness and wind and cold in Peking. Czech ambassador received me in his two-hectare compound—lonely man, discouraged, not pleasant—his wife sick with a heart attack. I really feel he has given up. The Eastern Europeans really enjoy a kind of isolation here that is not their lot in other parts of the world. The ambassador is a very pleasant man, seemed anxious to talk but appeared critical of the Chinese and their strange ways. Dinner with Teddy Youde. A very pleasant relaxed dinner with two top people from his office and Sven Hirdman from Sweden.86 It was a nice early evening. Youde gave some credibility to the Sri Lanka[n] ambassador’s remarks and feels he is a bright and astute observer.
Increasing speculation on when there is going to be the next People’s Congress.87 Speculation goes on and on everywhere. No-body seems to know. People watch the Hall of the People to see if there are cars lined up and lights burning at night.88 And then speculation goes wild when there is a flicker of life. There is a lot of wonder as to what the NPC [National People’s Congress] will produce. Will we know more about the leadership? Will it signal a change in direction on policy? Further speculation as to whether Qiao Guanhua’s appointment to foreign minister has anything to do with the Kissinger visit. In my judgment it probably did. It will be interesting to see, as I think will happen, that Kissinger spends a good deal of time with Qiao Guanhua. There is one speculative story by John Burns that this will be difficult because Kissinger’s relationship with Qiao is sticky since Kissinger said he couldn’t remember his name. That’s not true. I have seen them together. The press speculation on this field is just as weird as on Watergate but it’s not quite as mean.
escu) sought closer ties with Beijing as a way to balance their frequently tense relationship with Moscow. Within the Soviet bloc only Romania and Albania retained party-to-party relations with the Chinese Communists following the Sino-Soviet split of the early 1960s, while only Romania, Albania, and Bulgaria refused to endorse the Kremlin’s crackdown on the 1968 Czechoslovakian protests. Economic and political ties between China and Romania were accordingly strengthened in the 1970s, especially as Beijing curried favor with any Communist state willing to stand with it against Moscow’s hegemonic aspirations. Trade between Beijing and Bucharest increased sevenfold during the 1970s, leading, as Bush noted, to a privileged place for the Romanian ambassador in China during this period. It is a telling statement of Bush’s ingrained belief that he could win favor through friendship that he offhandedly suggested the Romanian would prove a “good friend”—in other words, a useful source of information and political aid— on account of his special relationship with the Chinese. As he said in a later paragraph, “I want to deal with those who can help us learn more.” And he believed that, through friendship, he would.