His characterization of the meeting was similar to one ?? the Chinese Government, which issued a communiqué yesterday terming the discussions “earnest and significant.” Before Mr. Ford commented, a White House spokesman had said only that the Chinese description “seems to us to be a fair” one.

What later turned out to have been the first hint that a visit by Mr. Ford with the Communist Party chairman was impending came during the day when Susan Ford, the President's 18‐year‐old dawzhter, was unexpectedly sumImoned back to Peking from a trip to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. No one in the American party, it was said, knew why.

Then suddenly, with a few minutes' notice, the President, Betty and Susan Ford and top officials in the American party were summoned to Chairman Mao's residence in a park near Peking's Forbidden City.

The 81‐year‐old Chinese leader shook hands with all his visitors, according to the Chinese communiqué, before beginning the discussions with Mr. Ford and the President's aides, including Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger.

The impression he gave the Americans was said to be one of an alert though somewhat disabled leader. The Chairman reportedly walked to the door to welcome Mr. Ford but was said to have had some minor problem with his speech.