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May 9, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger
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1553070
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May 9, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Europe
Portugal
Romania
China
Israel
Singapore
Soviet Union
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Jews
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1975-05-09
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5
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1975
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1975-05-09
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5
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1975
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
PARTICIPANTS:
President 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:
Friday, May 9, 1975
9:25 a. m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
The White House
The President: I don't think they should testify. They aren't qualified.
Kissinger: All they can do is testify to the legal implications.
The President: Let's find out what the request actually says. If it is
general, OK; if specific, no.
Kissinger: I recommend you see all the NATO leaders except Iceland,
the Dutch and the Italians. A lot of time is worthwhile with Schmidt.
Wilson is marginal. I recommend meeting with the head of the EC;
Soames may be a big Conservative leader sometime. I don't think Margart
Thatcher will last. The Luxemborg Prime Minister should see you. He will
be head of the General Assembly next year.
Wilson said Lee Kuan Yew gave a sour speech about the U.S. at
the Commonwealth Conference. He felt he had bet on the wrong horse.
I would tell him you have heard what he said and you would like his
unvarnished views of what the situation is and how it mig ht develop.
The President: In light of what Wilson said, I think he should tell me
what he said.
Kissinger: Yes. It is not critical of you. He should tellus what he
thinks we should do.
GERALD
CIBRARY
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
CLASSIFIED BY HENRY A. KISSINGER
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
DECLASSIPIED
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
R.O. 12958, Sec. 3.5
EXEMPTION CATEGORY
5 (b) (1,3)
Dept. Guidelines Abc - 11/24/18,
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to det.
NARA, Date 5/14/04
SEGRET/ NODIS/XGDS
-2-
The President: I am surprised they don't have relations with the Chinese.
Kissinger: The overseas Chinese orient toward the most powerful. Lee
is worried that if the PRC gets in, he will lose control.
We have a DOD problem with Chile. They won't deliver on
contracts made before the cutoff.
Scowcroft: Let's get a paper with different interpretations and get it in.
Kissinger: Can we do it while the Chilean is here?
This is another case of Congressional restrictions. We didn't
even know it existed.
The President: Will someone monitor the Giscard call?
Scowcroft: Not automatically.
The President: I think it should be.
Kissinger: I think you must be frank. You don't see how he could meet
with CSCE and not with the West. I would not agree to meet with him
before the fall.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
FORD
R
GERALD
LIBRARY
2
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President 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:
Friday, May 9, 1975
9:30 a.m.
PLACE:
The White House
President: I would just as soon stay in the Embassy in Brussels. Ineed
to talk to Firestone.
Kissinger: We have a problem on that Congressional letter on Israel. It
is very bad.
President: Can't we get Scott and Griffin to oppose it?
Kissinger: I asked Brent to talk to Max Fisher. Max thought it would be
taken as an anti-Israeli move.
President: I think we ought to call Scott and Griffin.
Scowcroft: [Gave Fisher's argument.]
President: Once they have signed it, they can't get off the hook. I think
B.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/04/08, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
NARA. DATE 5/14/04
I should call Scott and Griffin.
Kissinger: Another thing on the Israelis. We are testifying on the Romanian
trade bill. I have the impression Jackson and the Jews are trying to blow up
DECLASSIFIED
the Romanian deal to prove that you can't deal with the Soviet Union and have
to support Israel completely. They are going through the same act as with
the Soviet deal. It looks like Jewish groups are trying to blow up Romanian
MFN.
FORD
a
CLASSIFIED BY HENRY A. KISSINGER
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
SECRET/NODIS/XGD$
BY.
GERALD
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
EXEMPTION CATEGORY 5 (b) (1.3)
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to det.
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-2-
President: Don Kendall called. [He described Kendall's pitch on MFN].
I told him Dent ought to be used and I didn't think Simon had unusual clout.
Do we have the language?
Kissinger: I don't think a language change will do it. We have to get
Jackson-Vanik dropped. I think we need some progress in US-Soviet
relations before we can move. If the Romanian deal falls through, we
will suffer a massive setback.
President: Shouldn't we answer Kendall that we have to wait until the
Romanian [deal] goes through?
Kissinger: I think we could send Dent up to start proselytizing. It won't
do any harm -- although I don't know what we would propose.
I think you must tell that Rabin this interference in our domestic scene
must stop. They are now on the kick that we must support Israel as only
democratic. State in the area and the only way to prevent Soviet penetration.
But the Israeli approach would guarantee Soviet influence in every Arab
country in the Middle East.
On Portugal, the press now is saying I am the hardliner. I had an acrimon-
ious debate with the British on it. I think if we indicate that the radicals
are acceptable, the moderates will not resist. If you get a Portuguese
government with Communists in key positions and that is accepted, you will
see the same thing spreading in Europe. I don't have anything specific to
suggest. I am almost alone on this. The Europeans want to cooperate.
If we could get the Europeans in line, I would kick them [a Communist-
dominated Portugal] out of NATO. You can't discuss things in NATO any
more because Portugal is there. But you can talk to Schmidt and Giscard.
Soares is a classic loser. There is nothing you can do at the moment. But
this will be the next focal point of attack on me. I think we should hang
back, discourage the Europeans from expanding their contacts except if
there is a specific quid pro quo.
President: My impression is there is ectasy there over the election.
Kissinger: But it didn't change a thing.
The President: The Europeans don't want to fact up to the problems.
Kissinger: I would be slightly cool to Dobrynin.
FORD
R
GERALD
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
Pspeches WP, MATUTINg
geory Joses. Don Bugilt
P/K 9 Way 75
9:26 am
P 2 Invit think they should testify They ann't
as they can do is certify toth legal information
P
Let's find ant what tes Mquist artivity 2 up- if it
is good, JK, if geofin, no.
K
Income your 24 all NATO linders energet
I elland, Dirtch, Strings hat of this r/ S shoult.
Wilson marginal & cressn. mty or/head of EL.
Samb may he a brip enassmation lender sometimes
Idvation managest T. hatcher will Last.
but PM should see your will be head fGA
Wrban said Lei gone a your spuchdrit us at
Commenth Conf about - he had but u creamy
hmst. downld of tell him you have hand
what he said t you well like his involvement
mins of what the RiA is & how it might day.
P
In light of what Wilen said, & think hn should
tell the what he said
K
Yes, It not centrial P your He should two my What
hr thinks we should
P
Injustd Ctry don't have white w PRC
K
Oversia Chise crient Ground shoot formpol Lu
is worried if PRC gets in he will la control
are homea DOD public w/Chile. Trey writ which
on critints made heporic critoff.
S
hits get a f aple M/ diy interpretates + at it in
K
Came don't while Chinten is here.
Those is another case of Crug ustiming We didn't
bon how U it episted.
P
will some one enounter - Griend call.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES, stateleview 3/9/04
BY he
NARA DATE 5/14/04
But that opinion Photmato We griting
unius from with harity. but we moth mm
for of we critt print
(Hands letter). gives sen Every my
rejords & but writers in this motoris day
where when you
D
Ives a fruitn art engineer & pribut
lyo with mh when & 10 mike pon
morno. We had a portute gendrat my unifs
+) duy in gonth
and herea letter her one particiment to
all altrid particiments
(Small talk alms c firther of Venil)
S but antivatically
p
I think NA should h.
K
& think you must he from you don't we how
he canld mut w/CSCE that w/wot. w & would ent
agest to mut w/ line he pre fall
Scrememplett Peall at 0730
>ash advance trom for anangement so /an-
4
PIK 9 may ) 5
P
I would find do sodn Hmy in C È missing in Bromits.
9 mula talk to Finston
K
we home a proton that Cmy litter on I. It is very
bnd.
P
Can't me get Scitt K Girlpin to offor
K
I ashnd B * toth to max. may thought it world
he taben as am anti -I move.
P
I think me anytht a call cont t Criffin.
S
(Gare mor's argument)
P
O nce they home segiral it, they canaget of the
have I think I should call Scott X awf
K
another thing on iI. are testifyring Reviewin
trave. I hmic inpression June home R June
trying & Homong C Resnaring SU lent to prove that
your ant deal w/o Cants, have h my ynt I
completely. They and getring them c Jonne at of w/c
Sro did. It listes like ferrish groups and types to blair
up Romanion MIFN.
P
Kend M Med described Rendall pitch on MEN)
I tald him Dent anght to w world and I didn't think
Emion had unusual clant. Donne Gave language?
K
& don't Think language change will do it. Cve have
to get ya hsm Vounh chappel. I think une nut new
Aug in US-SU relations infore me can more
If Ranannan dial falls thus, WM will suffer a
massive sethorth
P
Shmirhit we answer Kendrell that an have to
writ at Rounaning gods then.
K
I think me candl send Dent up to start
DECLARATIED
E.O. 11/24/98, 12958, STATE SEC.3.5 DEPT. GUIDBLINES 5/14/04
statement 3/9/04
NSC BY MEMO, NARA. DATE
problemyting. It want dr any have the I clirit
hmor what ine wordel propore.
K
I think you unot all Ratin this interfere
in am drustric selve must stop. Thing are me
on hish and inst support I as only demo + way
to present Son fonctration- but I approver world
gravantee Sro influmed in help Chach country in
CME.
On Port, the press nmw trying forme hard lines.
I hedaumins loborte w/c Brits on it, d think if we
indicate that C radicab and acceptable, C understand
will not resist. If you get a Prt gout / Crusts
in hey positions ac extable ed, you will we
c same thing spreading inEm. I din't have
any thing specific to my jest. I amalmost above
ch this. Emos evont & corperate. If end could get
C Euros in line, Devasil hich then ant of NATE.
your con't disins inNATO because Part there.
But you chu talk C Schmidt Ansional.
Soons is a classic loves. There is withing
you can to atc marrent. But This will are
C next fral point of attack on me.
I think am should hang buck, discouncy mas
from x p anding their conta to exect for specific
pink.
P
my impression is them is eastasy OWELL ele time
K
But it didn't change a thing.
P
The E mo d int want to face my f pub.
K
I would le whighth curl a Dar.