Vice Premier Teng: It probably would be good if one day we would be able to exchange views in Washington.
Secretary Kissinger: I hope we can do that very soon --
Vice Premier Teng: I think it is a commnon desire, and that is good.
Secretary Kissinger: -- because your Foreign Minister always refuses
Vice Premier Teng: It is difficult for him to come now. What will he do if he meets the Chiang Kai-shek Ambassador in Washington?
[Note: At this point in the conversation the press is ushered from the room.]
Secretary Kissinger: I thought he wanted to wait until the Ambassador's [Huang Chen's] residence was fully furnished. I think we can arrange a visit so that there is no danger of his meeting anybody there he wishes to avoid.
Vice Premier Teng: It might be difficult.
Secretary Kissinger: That we could arrange, and we are prepared on this visit to discuss the whole question of normalization.
Vice Premier Teng: That is good. We have just received news that Tanaka has resigned.
Secretary Kissinger: Yes. I think I told your Foreign Minister last night that we knew he would resign this morning. Our indications are that there will now be a rush of consultations in which --. All the candidates are in favor of consultation because they think they will emerge as the Prime Minister. I think there will be an election around December 9. We think that Ohira is the most likely to succeed him, and if he doesn't make it then Shiina will probably become the successor.
Vice Premier Teng: What about Fukuda?
Secretary Kissinger: We don't think Fukuda can make it now, and therefore if they want Fukuda they will first put in Shiina as a transitional figure.
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE/EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
