WASHINGTON (AP) -- Amid a discussion of trade in 1973, Chinese leader
Mao Zedong made what U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger called a
novel proposition: sending tens of thousands, even 10 million, Chinese
women to the United States.

Chinese leader Mao Zedong offered women to the U.S.

"You know, China is a very poor country," Mao said, according to a
document released by the State Department's historian office.

"We don't have much. What we have in excess is women. So if you want
them we can give a few of those to you, some tens of thousands."

A few minutes later, Mao circled back to the offer. "Do you want our
Chinese women?" he asked. "We can give you 10 million."

After Kissinger noted Mao was "improving his offer," the chairman
said, "We have too many women. ... They give birth to children and our
children are too many."

"It is such a novel proposition," Kissinger replied in his discussion
with Mao in Beijing. "We will have to study it."