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1553090
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May 29, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing
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1553090
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May 29, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Europe
France
Portugal
Spain
Vietnam (Republic)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (4/4/1949 - )
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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1975-05-29
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1975
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1975-05-29
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1975
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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet
WITHDRAWAL ID 010874
REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL
National security restriction
TYPE OF MATERIAL
Memorandum of Conversation
CREATOR'S NAME
Ford/d'Estaing/et.al.
CREATION DATE
05/29/1975
VOLUME
3 pages
COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID
036600146
COLLECTION TITLE
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. MEORANDA OF
CONVERSATIONS
BOX NUMBER
12
FOLDER TITLE
May 29, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, French
President Valery Giscard d'Estaing
DATE WITHDRAWN
02/01/2000
WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST
LET
SANITIZED 3/11/02
2/3/10
6/7/13
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
Valery Giscard d'Estaing, President of the
French Republic
Foreign Minister Jean Sauvagnargues
President Gerald Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
and Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Thursday, May 29, 1975
[Following King Baudouin's Dinner]
PLACE:
Royal Palace
Brussels, Belgium
Giscard: I wanted to come to show you an expression of my regard
for you and the United States. I know it is a difficult time for
you. In Southeast Asia, we tried to influence them as long as we
could. We know the difficulties you are having, and we understand
why you wanted to come to Europe.
President: I have long thought we made a mistake in the way we
conducted our operations, but I still believe our objectives in
Indochina were right. There comes a time when you have to recog-
nize the realities. It is over. But some of us don't concede
that we were wrong to have tried.
Giscard: I think this will give you more freedom of action now.
The French public opinion understood, and there was no criticism.
President: In the United States, most people did not take any
satisfaction from the events, even those who were against the war.
Giscard: We have taken a certain number of refugees. Our Consul
has visited some of the camps.
TOP SECRIT
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
CLASSIFIED BY: HENRY A. KISSINGER
DECLASSIFIED IN PART
E.O. 13526
Authority NCF 10-117 Appeal, 26
NAR APMH Date 6/7/2013
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
2
President: We appreciate this. Several other countries have
offered.
Giscard: I want to raise my second point: I believe that for
French security and the stability of the Western world. it would
be better to have two units -- Western Europe and the United
States. In the past, it was thought that Europe couldn't be a
reliable partner, but now I don't think it is possible to have a
difference between us on major points. I think the people would
have more security with two units. Of course, Europe is not yet
organized, but I intend to try. I would like understanding from
the United States that it is sympathetic to our attempt to do this.
Tindemans is doing a study to see what could be done.
President: How about Portugal, and Spain?
Giscard: I am just thinking of the EC now, but we would expand
to include Greece, Portugal and Spain.
I share your view on Portugal. I expressed it to Helmut [Schmidt].
We shouldn't ostracize them, but we shouldn't give them support.
President: They are no better than the old regime.
Kissinger: Concalves gave us a political lecture today: The
Armed Forces Movement represents the people, the political parties
represent only part of the people, he says.
Giscard: This is sad. The Portuguese people are nice people.
To imagine the Armed Forces Movement is the expression of the
people!
We were embarrassed. Casta Gomes is coming next week, on the
way to Romania. We arranged it when we thought the election
would change things.
I believe it is important to build Europe. Right now we have the
Soviet Union and China fighting. If they join up, then there
would only be the United States opposing.
It is better for us not to try to change the NATO structure.
We will increase our own forces. We won't push our partners to
diminish their NATO commitment. Defense relations will remain
the same for now, but politics will be done more and more on a
unified basis in Europe. Then it would not be good for the United
States to work with one and another.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
3
President: This would exclude Canada also.
Giscard: Yes. Only the Nine.
President: What about Spain?
Giscard: That is another Portuguese case, an aging regime unable
to adjust for the future. One can hope, but I am not optimistic.
Juan Carlos is a fine fellow,
3.3(b)(6)
Kissinger: I agree. He hasn't the strength.
Giscard: He will take no risks. I advised him not to continue
to play a secondary role to Franco. When Franco took back the
power last year, I told him to withdraw, with an announcement
that he would wait, then leave Spain and travel. When Franco
died, he should go back and put in a Cabinet of liberals, instead
of being a prisoner of Franco. But he won't do it.
We can't help. They are a proud country and other people can't
help. So Europe will be Benelux and the Six.
Let me say something on the Third World. I visited several places.
In Morocco, two million people cheered me because of our position
on developing countries. We recognize they have a position to
defend. The United States policy of the last few years which has
been negative in these areas has been resented. I understand
your view, but in the world today, you can't let people be captive
to price fluctuation, etc.
President: We will not defend the free enterprise system rhetori-
cally, though we believe in it. Neither will we embrace the "new
order." We will sit down on a case-by-case basis and discuss these
problems and solve them. Rhetoric won't do it. I am a problem-
solver. We will express our views at the table but we won't
polarize people because the problems that can't be solved.
Giscard: After World War II, the United States took an active
position to decolonize. We supported you. Now these people are
worried about their economic future. This is a major issue now.
Kissinger: We recognize this. We have a difficult time within
our own government. We have solved that. But it would be bad
if the countries of the developed world competed with each other
to offer favors to the underdeveloped nations. That is our
concern.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet
WITHDRAWAL ID 010876
REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL
National security restriction
TYPE OF MATERIAL
Memorandum of Conversation
CREATOR'S NAME
Ford/d'Estaing/et.al.
DESCRIPTION
handwritten version of memcon #010874
CREATION DATE
05/29/1975
VOLUME
3 pages
COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID
036600146
COLLECTION TITLE
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. MEORANDA OF
CONVERSATIONS
BOX NUMBER
12
FOLDER TITLE
May 29, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, French
President Valery Giscard d'Estaing
DATE WITHDRAWN
02/01/2000
WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST
LET