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    "ocrText": "DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD [NIXON PROJECT]\nDOCUMENT\nDOCUMENT\nNUMBER\nTYPE\nSUBJECT/TITLE OR CORRESPONDENTS\nDATE\nRESTRICTION\nI\nletter\nFranco to the President\n11/18/71\nB\nDECLASSIFIED Per Hr. 6/11/2015\n3\nreport\nBiography\n4/73\nB\nDECLASSIFIED Per Hr. 6/11/2015\n4\nreport\nBiography\n1/71\nB\nDECLASSIFIED Per Hr. 6/11/2015\n5\nletter\nThe President to Franco\nn.d.\nB\nw/attach.\n6\nmemo\nSonnenfeldt to HAK\n4/17/70\nB\n8\nletter\nThe President to Franco\nw/attach.\nDECLASSIFIED Per Hr. 6/11/2015\n10/19/71\nB\n9\nmemo\nActing Sec State to the President\n10/8/71\nB\n10\nletter\nDECLASSIFIED Hr. 6/11/2015\nduplicate of document 8\nFILE GROUP TITLE\nBOX NUMBER\nNSC\n762\nFOLDER TITLE\n6\nRESTRICTION CODES\nA. Release would violate a Federal statute or Agency Policy.\nE. Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or\nB. National security classified information.\nfinancial information.\nC. Pending or approved claim that release would violate an individual's\nF. Release would disclose investigatory information compiled for law\nrights.\nenforcement purposes.\nD. Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy\nG. Withdrawn and return private and personal material.\nor a libel of a living person.\nH. Withdrawn and returned non-historical material.\nNATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION\n*U.S.GPO;1989-235-084/00024\nNA 14021 (4-85)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nINDEX\n1\nJune 17, 1969 memo from Johnson to Kissinger about the letter from\nPresident Nixon to General Franco. on Spanish Base negotiations.\n2\nJune 19, 1969 memos on the above letter and text of same as\ntransmitted by state.\n3\nJuly 11, 1969 exchange of notes between the President and General\nFranco on the occasion of July 4.\n4\nPresident's letter to General Franco on the celebration of the\nSpanish National day.\n5\nJuly 23, 1969 copy of a letter from General Franco to the\nPresident from February 20.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE House\nWASHINGTON\nVia Classified Dex.\nto Colonel Kennedy\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nTRANSCEIVER\nCHANKEL LUMBER 135\n01 06\nDATE-TIME-GROUP 0704062\nFROM MR. SONNENFELDI\nTO Cob. KENNEDY\nNUMBER OF PAGES 5\nCLASSIFICATION Unclas\nTIME OF RECEIPT 070449\nGROUP COUNT\nOPERATORS SIGN\n/GJ.\nTRICK CHIEF DA\n'71 JAN 7 AM 12: 12\nSITUATIONSEM\nDISTRIBUTION:\nFOR RECEIVE COMMON USE\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\n24832\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nURGENT ACTION\nJanuary 6, 1971\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\nSUBJECT:\nLetter for General Franco\nSecretary Stans is scheduled to be in Spain January 11-13, and he will\nmeet during that time with General Franco. Assistant Secretary of\nCommerce McLellan has written to you (Tab B) noting that Secretary\nStans would welcome the opportunity to carry a personal letter of\ngreeting from the President to General Franco. He will be leaving\non Friday, January 8 to meet the Secretary in Europe, and SO will\nhave to have the President's letter by that day at the latest.\nAt Tab A is a memorandum for the President formally requesting (for\nthe record) that he sign such a letter, the text of which has been approved\nby Pat Buchanan (in Ray Price's absence).\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat you sign the memorandum at Tab A for the President, or have\nother action taken to ensure that the President's signed letter is con-\nveyed to Assistant Secretary McLellan by Friday.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nA\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n24832\nWASHINGTON\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHenry A. Kissinger\nSUBJECT:\nLetter to General Franco\nSecretary Stans is scheduled to visit Spain January 11-13, and he will be\nmeeting with General Franco. He would welcome the opportunity to\ncarry a personal letter of greeting from you to Franco. A non-sub-\nstantive letter of greeting is at Tab A, the text of which has been cleared\nby Pat Buchanan. If you agree to sign the letter, it must be in the hands\nof Assistant Secretary McLellan by Friday, January 8 so that he could\ncarry it with him that day when he meets Secretary Stans in Europe.\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat you sign the letter to General Franco at Tab A.\n2\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDear General Franco:\nIt is with pleasure that I extend my personal greetings\nto you through Secretary Stans. I am delighted that you\nhave given him this opportunity to meet with you.\nSecretary Stans' visit to Spain and his discussions with\nyou and members of the Government of Spain serve to\ndemonstrate again the great value we place on strength-\nening the solid ties of friendship between our countries.\nHis discussions and the continued expansion of mutual\ntrade and investment will be to the benefit of both our\nnations.\nSincerely,\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nW\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n24832\nDEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\nTHE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE\nWashington, D.C. 20230\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA\nJanuary 4, 1971\nHonorable Henry A. Kissinger\nAssistant to the President\nfor National Security Affairs\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nDear Dr. Kissinger:\nYou will recall, Secretary Stans will be meeting with leaders of\nthe Spanish government January 11-13. The Government of\nSpain has indicated they would like Secretary Stans to meet with\nGeneralissimo Franco during this visit.\nAs has been the custom in the Secretary's previous meetings with\nother heads of state, he would welcome the opportunity to present\na personal letter of greetings from President Nixon to\nGen. Franco. A draft letter for consideration is enclosed.\nIf the President signs such a letter, I would appreciate it very\nmuch if it could be returned to me by Friday, January 8. I will\nbe leaving at the close of business on that day to meet the\nSecretary in Europe, and will hand carry it to him for his\ndelivery to Gen. Franco.\nYour assistance is appreciated.\nSincerely yours,\nRobert McLellan\nAssistant Secretary for Domestic\nand International Business\nEnclosure\n4\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDRAFT:\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid, Spain\nYour Excellency:\nIt is with great pleasure that I extend my personal greetings\nthrough my good friend and colleague, the Honorable Maurice H. Stans,\nSecretary of Commerce of the United States of America.\nI am delighted that Secretary Stans has the opportunity to meet\nwith you and other officials of the Government of Spain to discuss\nmatters of common interest. These talks will continue the beneficial\nexchange of views which you have shared with me and other members\nof my Administration.\nI hope sincerely that Secretary Stans' visit also will emphasize\nthe great value which we attribute to the friendship of the people of\nSpain, and the importance which I place on strengthening the ties\nbetween our two countries.\nThe continued expansion of trade and investment between Spain\nand the United States will be to the great benefit of both our countries,\nand we look forward to working with Spain in mutual commitment to\nthe best interests and highest aspirations of our people.\nWith my cordial personal regards,\nRichard Nixon\n5\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRETO.\nEL JEFE DEL ESTADO ESPAÑOL\nGENERALÍSIMO DE LOS EJÉRCITOS NACIONALES\nMadrid, 18 de noviembre de 1971.\nMi querido Presidente y amigo:\nComo le habrá indicado el Embajador Hill, le re-\ncibí con toda prontitud con el fin de que me entregara\npersonalmente su carta del pasado día 19 de octubre,\nsobre el tema de la navegación y sobrevuelo en los Es-\ntrechos.\nHe considerado con toda atención el contenido de\nsu carta. Sabe usted hasta qué punto son sinceros mis\nsentimientos de amistad hacia su país y hacia usted\npersonalmente, y conoce mi vivo deseo de que siempre\nreine el mejor entendimiento entre nuestros respecti-\nvos Gobiernos, pues todo acerca los destinos de los\npueblos norteamericano y español.\nSin embargo, debo decirle que la propuesta gene-\nral de los Estados Unidos sobre libre tránsito y sobre\nvuelo en los Estrechos afecta particularmente los in-\ntereses permanentes españoles. El Estrecho de Gibral-\ntar, que como usted sabe llega a tener en algunas par-\ntes una anchura de siete millas y media, y que se en-\ncuentra parcialmente situado dentro del mar territorial\nespañol, es y ha sido siempre en la Historia un punto\nvital para España, estratégica y económicamente. Su im\nportancia se ha acentuado por los progresos modernos,\nen todos los aspectos, y no es concebible que mi país,\nni ningún otro que se halle en parecida situación, pue\nda renunciar a la protección jurídica de sus legítimos\nintereses, al plantearse una posible revisión del Dere\ncho del Mar.\nDECLASSIFIED\nE.O. 13526, Section 3.5\nPer Hr. 6/11/2015 NLN13-65/17303\nBy RJ IMIH NARA, Date 5/27/2022\n[p.10+7]\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDeseo mencionar también que la opinión de mi\npaís y los sentimientos de mi propio Gobierno, atri-\nbuyen gran importancia a cuanto se relaciona con la\nzona de Gibraltar, donde se encuentra localizada la\npermanente reivindicación española que usted tan bien\nconoce.\nSegún la propuesta norteamericana, gozarían de\nun derecho indiscriminado de libre navegación y sobre\nvuelo no sólo las fuerzas afectadas a la defensa de\nOccidente, sino las de cualquier otra Potencia, y en\ntre ellas las de la Unión Soviética y de China. Que-\ndaría así, a mi entender, agravada la amenaza poten-\ncial a que usted alude en su carta, con preocupación\nque yo mismo comparto.\nNuestro Acuerdo de Amistad y Cooperación con los\nEstados Unidos, en sus diversas cláusulas, y la apli\ncación que del mismo puede hacerse por las Autorida-\ndes de nuestros dos países, son en mi opinión el mar\nCO adecuado para asegurar la flexibilidad de sus fuer\nzas en esta zona, sin necesidad de modificar el régi\nmen jurídico de paso inocente por el Estrecho, que\nrespeta la soberanía de los países ribereños y su de-\nrecho de legítima defensa.\nAl expresarle con toda sinceridad mis puntos\nde vista, como me pide, quiero una vez más reiterarle\nlos sentimientos de amistad y afecto que me animan\nhacia su país y su persona, y encargo a mi Ministro\nde Asuntos Exteriores, López-Bravo, que considere cui\ndadosamente este tema, aún consciente de nuestras li-\nmitaciones, mientras subsista la situación colonial\nen Gibraltar.\nLe saluda muy amistosamente,\nSu\nRichard M. Nixon.\nPresidente de los Estados Unidos de América.\nWashington.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nDIVISION OF LANGUAGE SERVICES\n(TRANSLATION)\nSECRET\nLS NO.\n26410\nT-123/R-XX\nSpanish\nTHE CHIEF OF THE SPANISH STATE\nGeneralissimo of the National Armies\nMadrid, November 18, 1971\nDear Mr. President:\nAs Ambassador Hill will have informed you, I received him promptly in\norder that he might deliver to me personally your letter of October 19 last\non the subject of navigation and overflight through and over straits.\nI have given the contents of your letter my fullest attention. You are\naware of the sincerity of my feelings of friendship toward your country and\ntoward you personally, and you know of my earnest desire always for the best\nof understanding between our two Governments, since there is so much that links\nthe destinies of the American and Spanish peoples.\nNevertheless, I must tell you that the general proposal of the United\nStates on freedom of navigation and overflight through and over straits parti-\ncularly affects long-range Spanish interests. The Strait of Gibralter, which\nas you know attains a breadth of seven and a half miles in some places and\nis partially situated inside Spanish territorial waters, is and has been throughout\nhistory a point of vital importance to Spain, both strategically and economically.\nHis Excellency\nRichard M. Nixon,\nPresident of the United States of America,\nWashington.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n-2-\nIts importance has been accentuated by modern progress in all its aspects,\nand it is not conceivable that my country, or any other country in the same\nposition, should renounce legal protection of its legitimate interests when\na possible revision of the Law of the Sea is projected.\nI wish to mention also that public opinion in my country and the thinking\nof my own Government attach great importance to all matters relating to the\narea of Gibraltar, which is the subject of the permanently maintained Spanish\nclaim with which you are familiar.\nAccording to the United States proposal, not only those forces assigned to\ndefense of the West would have the unrestricted right of free navigation and\noverflight, but also those of any other power, including the Soviet Union and\nChina. This situation would, in my judgment, aggravate the potential threat\nto which you allude in your letter with a concern that I share.\nIn my opinion, our Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation with the United\nStates, in its various clauses and in its implementation by the authorities\nof our two countries, provides an adequate arrangement for ensuring the manue-\nverability of your forces in this area, without the need of modifying the\nlegal regime of innocent passage through the Strait, which respects the sovereignt\nof the coastal States and their right of self-defense.\nIn expressing my position with all frankness, as you asked me to do, I\nwish once more to renew my sentiments of friendship and esteem for you and your\ncountry, and I am instructing my Minister of Foreign Affairs, López-Bravo, to\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n-3-\nconsider this matter carefully, but without losing sight of our limitations\nas long as the colonial situation continues to exist in Gibraltar.\nVery cordially yours,\n[Signed] F. Franco\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n,\n35591\nspanish EMBASSY\nWASHINGTON\nAn Unofficial Translation\nMadrid, 18 of November, 1971.\nMy dear President and friend:\nAs Ambassador Hill probably has told you,\nI granted him a prompt appointment for the purpose of\nhanding me personally your letter of the 19th of October\non the subject of navigation and overflights.\nI have given the most careful attention to\nthe contents of your letter. You know how sincere are\nmy feelings of friendship toward your country and toward\nyou personally, and you are aware of my earnest desire to\nmaintain between our respective governments the best\npossible understanding, inasmuch as everything tends to\nbring closer the destinies of the North American and Span-\nish peoples.\nHowever, I should say to you that the gen-\neral proposal of the United States of free transit and\noverflights of Straits directly affects permanent Span-\nish interests. The Strait of Gibraltar, as you well know,\nwhich in some places has a width of seven and a half miles\nand is partly located within the Spanish territorial waters,\nhas always been in history a vital spot for Spain, stra-\ntegically and economically. With modern progress, its im-\nportance has increased in every way, and it is not think-\nable that my country, nor any other country placed in a\nsimilar position, could renounce the juridical protection\nof its legitimate interests in the event of a contemplated\nrevision of the Law of the Sea.\nI also wish to mention that public opinion\nin my country and the feelings of my Government attach\ngreat importance to everything related to the area of\nGibraltar, where a permanent Spanish revindication, as you\nknow so well, is to be found.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n- 2 -\nAccording to the North American proposal,\nan indiscriminate right of free transit and overflight\nwould be enjoyed not only by the forces attached to the\ndefense of the West, but also by those of any other power,\namong them those of the Soviet Union and China. This\nwould, in my opinion, increase the potential threat to\nwhich you refer in your letter; a concern I share.\nOur Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation\nwith the United States, with its various clauses, and the\nuse that the authorities of both countries make of it, are,\nin my opinion, the appropriate framework to ensure the\nflexibility of our forces in that area, without the need\nfor a change in the juridical system of innocent passage\nthrough the Strait, which leaves untouched the sovereignty\nof the coastal States and the right of self-defense.\nIn expressing with all sincerity my points of\nview, as you asked me to do, I wish to reiterate the feel-\nings of friendship and affection I hold toward your country\nand yourself, and I instruct my Minister of Foreign Affairs,\nLópez Bravo, to consider very carefully this subject, al-\nthough conscious of our limitations as long as the present\ncolonial situation of Gibraltar exists.\nsigned\nFrancisco Franco\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSPANISH EMBASSY\nWASHINGTON\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDOC\nRECD\nLOG NBR\nINITIAL ACTION OFF\nD\"\nMO DA\nMO DA HR\nNSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE\n11\n18\n120918\n35591\nLOG IN/OUT ONLY\nTO: PRES\nFROM: ELIOT\nU\nNO FORN\nNODIS\nKISSINGER\nROGERS, W\nLOU\nBUO\nEXDIS\nDOC SOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION\nHAIG\nLAIRD, M\nC\nEYES ONLY\nLIMDIS\nCODE WORD\nRES DATA\nSUBJECT: Responds to FRANCO Pres On Lany TS SENSITIVE Sea +\nREFERENCE: Passage S/S then Staait OTHER of NOT Gifhalta XEROXED\nAPP'TS: PRES\nHAK\nTALKER\nMEMCON\nDATE REQ.\nINTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION\nACTION REQUIRED\nACTION\nINFO\nREC\nMEMO FOR HAK\n(\n)\nCY\nADVANCE CYS TO HAK/HAIG\nfor\nMEMO FOR PRES.\n(\n)\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nREPLY FOR\nSIGNATURE\n(\n)\nFAR EAST\nFOR DISTRIBUTION/DISPATCH\n(\n)\nSECRETARIAT DISTRIBUTION/ACTION\nSUB-SAHARAN AFRICA\nMEMO\nTO\n(\n)\nNR EAST/NORTH AFRICA\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n(\n)\nEUROPE/CANADA\nX\nJOINT MEMO\n(\n)\nLATIN AMERICA\nX\nREFER TO STATE\n(\n)\nUNITED NATIONS\nX\nANY ACTION NECESSARY\n(\n)\nECONOMIC\nCONCURRENCE\n(\n)\nSCIENTIFIC\ndue DATE:\nCOMMENTS: (Including D12/16 Special Instructions)\nLR planning\nPROGRAM ANALYSIS\nNSC PLANNING\nCONGRESSIONAL\nOfficial Recomedition Translation, +\nDATE\nFROM\nTO\nS\nACTION required\nNSC/5\nss\nD\nTRANSLATION + RECOMMENDATION (12/16)\nCY TO\n12/9/71\nINTERNAL/INTERIM ROUTING\n12/23\nGRW 25522\nsk\nNSC/S\nState Recom red /7119814\nused\n12/13\nNSC/S\nSONN\nS.\nChy further action mlc (02/18)\nDC\nwith 17. wright.\n2/25\nHS/MW\nHAK\nCIX\n3/20\nnoted Info & HAK\nMICROFILM DATA\nCROSS REF WITH\nNOTIFY\nDATE\nSEE LOG\nDISPATCH: LETTER/MEMO\nDO\nINIT\nDISPOSITION\nJOINED BY LOG\nCOPIES: (AS MARKED ABOVE)\nSPECIAL FILE RQMT:\nSA,\nHP,\nHM\nMAR 1972 DATE\nORIG)\nNSC\nTO )\nPAF\nSPECIAL DISPOSITION COMMENTS:\nWHC\nSUSPENSE CY ATTACHED:\nYES\nNO\nSUBF\n* GPO: 1971-412-412\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526.and has been determined to be declassified.\n5 Dispice\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\n5/21\nFOR:\nJEANNE DAVIS\nFROM:\nBill Hyland\nThe attached package\npossible.\n108015 handled through Tis State, baln Jalium.\nto gate Such. Studenty the WE\nSud\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n2002\nWASHINGTON\nMay 16, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHENRY A. KISSINGER HK\nSUBJECT:\nProposed Reply to General Franco\nAttached at Tab A is a proposed reply to General Franco's recent\nletter to you (at Tab B with informal translation). Spanish Foreign\nMinister Lopez Bravo delivered the letter when he paid his call\nApril 12. The proposed reply has been coordinated with Dave\nGergen, and I recommend that you sign it.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the reply to General Franco at Tab A.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\n2 002\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nACTION\nMay 4, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nR. G. Livingston up\nSUBJECT:\nPresidential Letter to General Franco\nWhen Lopez Bravo called on the President April 12 he delivered a\npersonal letter from General Franco (dated January 20, 1973). A\nproposed reply has been prepared, cleared with Dave Gergen,\nand is attached to the memorandum to the President at Tab A.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the memorandum to the President at Tab A.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nEl Jefe del Estado\nGeneralisimo de has Ejércitos Nacionales\nPalacio de El Pardo, 20 de Enero de 1973.\nMi querido Presidente y amigo:\nAl comenzar su segundo mandato presidencial, del que\ntanto esperamos como verdaderos amigos de la nación americana,\ny como país amante de la paz y la libertad, quiero reiterarle\nmi felicitación y formular los mejores votos para usted, sus\nfamiliares y compatriotas a lo largo de los cuatro años en\nque regirá los destinos de los Estados Unidos.\nMe parece necesario, por otra parte, que nos ocupemos\ndesde ahora de los problemas que ha de plantearnos, a ambos\npaíses, la renovación del vigente Acuerdo de Amistad y Coope-\nración entre España y Estados Unidos. Y por ello, con tiempo\nsuficiente -pero que nos será necesario- me permito plantearle\nla conveniencia de analizar a fondo conjuntamente las opciones\nposibles, a nivel adecuado y con la necesaria discreción.\nMi Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores, López-Bravo, a quien\ntan bien conoce, le expondrá mis ideas fundamentales, congruen-\ntes con mi criterio de que España debe asumir sus responsabili-\ndades para con la seguridad de Occidente, decisiva para la paz\nmundial.\nReciba, con la expresión de mi sincera amistad, un salu-\ndo muy afectuoso de su buen amigo\nSu Excelencia\nRichard M. Nixon.\nPresidente de los Estados Unidos de América.\nWashington.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nUNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION\nPalacio de El Pardo, 20 January 1973.\nDear President and friend:\nAt the beginning of your second term of office\nas President of the United States, a term from which we, as\nsincere friends of the American nation and as a peace and\nfreedom loving country, hope so much, I would like to express\nonce again my congratulations, while sending to you, your fa-\nmily and fellow countrymen my best wishes for the four years\nduring which you will be responsible for the fortunes of the\nUnited States.\nAt the same time, I believe we should now con-\ncern ourselves with the problems both our countries will have\nto cope with on account of the renewal of the present Agree-\nment of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and the Uni-\nted States. For this reason, with ample time ahead of us\n-\n-although for the purpose it will be necessary- I would like\nto suggest to you the opportunity of a joint analysis in depth\nof the various possibilities open to us, at the proper level\nand with the required discretion.\nMy Foreign Minister, Mr. López-Bravo, with\nwhom you are so well acquainted, will explain to you my basic\nideas which correspond to my belief that Spain must take up\nher responsibilities as regards Western security, which is\nessential for World peace.\nWith my best wishes, I remain sincerely yours\n(Francisco Franco)\nTo His Excellency\nRichard M. Nixon,\nPresident of the United States of America.\nWASHINGTON.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n7307534\nNSC #2002\ndepartment OF STATE\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nApril 27, 1973\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. HENRY A. KISSINGER\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Letter from General Franco to\nthe President\nGeneral Franco's January 20 letter to the\nPresident was delivered by Foreign Minister\nLopez Bravo during his April 12 call at the\nWhite House. The letter concerns the extension\nof the Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation.\nEnclosed is a suggested reply for the\nPresident's signature.\nTheodoreh.\nTheodore Eliot,\nExecutive Secretary\nAttachments:\n1. Suggested reply to General Franco's letter\n2. Copy of General Franco's letter\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDear General Franco:\nI would like to thank you sincerely for the warm good\nwishes expressed in your letter which was recently delivered\nto me by your able Foreign Minister, Mr. Lopez Bravo. It\nwas, as always, a pleasure to meet with your personal repre-\nsentative. I enjoyed my visit with the Minister and asked\nhim to convey to you, in return, my own personal greeting.\nThe renewal of the Agreement of Friendship and Coopera-\ntion between our two countries will be, of course, an issue\nwhich deserves our closest consideration over the next two years.\nI fully agree that we should begin preliminary talks concerning\nthe nature and form of our future relationship in ample time\nprior to the expiration of the present Agreement.\nI was particularly pleased to note in your letter and in\nmy talk with the Minister your desire to have Spain assume her\nresponsibilities regarding Western security. I share your\nviews on this Spanish objective and assure you that my Adminis-\ntration will continue its policy of supporting closer Spanish\ncooperation in Western defense arrangements.\nWith warm personal regards,\nSincerely,\nRichard Nixon\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNSC Log #2002\nTHE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE\nREFERRAL\n7307534\nTo: Executive Secretary\nDate: April 20, 1973\nDepartment of State\nACTION REQUESTED\nDraft reply for:\nPresident's signature.\nUndersigned's signature.\nNOTE\nMemorandum for use as enclosure to\nreply.\nPrompt action is essential.\nDirect reply.\nIf more than 72 hours' delay is encountered,\nFurnish information copy.\nplease telephone the undersigned immediately,\nCode 1450.\nSuitable acknowledgment or other\nappropriate handling.\nBasic correspondence should be returned when\nFurnish copy of reply, if any.\ndraft reply, memorandum, or comment is re-\nquested.\nFor your information.\nX\nFor comment. & recommendations.\nREMARKS:\nDescription:\nX Letter:\nTelegram: Other:\nTo: President Nixon\nFrom: Francisco Franco, Chief of State, Spain\nDate: January 20, 1973\nSubject: Congrats on re-election & possible renewal of Present Agreement of Friend-\nship & Cooperation between Spain & US\nBy direction of the President:\nBooth\nfor\nJEANNE W. DAVIS\n(Copy to remain with correspondence)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nApril 11, 1973\nTO: Dick Campbell\nFRO M: R.G. Livingston ml\nWe understand that this is to be\na walk-in visit of less than five\nminutes, simply for presentation\nof the Franco letter. However,\nif it is extended, the attached talker\nmay be useful.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\n2002\nSECRET\nMOST URGENT ACTION\nApril 11, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\nSUBJECT:\nLopez Bravo - Talker for the President\nThe President has now agreed to meet with the Spanish Foreign Minister\nat 11:30 today, April 11.\nAs you know, Lopez Bravo is bringing with him a personal message\nto the President from General Franco. It is said to deal with the Spanish\nrole in Western defense.\nAttached at Tab A is a memorandum with talking points for the President's\nmeeting.\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat you forward on an urgent basis the memorandum at Tab A, which\nincludes recommended talking points.\nSECRET - GDS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEX\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\n1922\nSECRET\nVERY URGENT ACTION\nApril 7, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\nSUBJECT:\nLopez Bravo Meeting with the President\nState has sent another memorandum (Tab A) on this visit:\n-- noting that Lopez Bravo will be bringing a personal letter from\nFranco;\n- - recommending that Assistant Secretary Stoessel be present at\nany meeting with the President.\nSteve Bull has turned your earlier appointment request down, but I have\nasked General Scowcroft to discuss this with you and to see if you want\nthe decision reconsidered in view of the background.\nWhether or not the decision against an appointment with the President\nstands, I recommend that you see the Foreign Minister.\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n1. That you reiterate your support for your previous recommendation\nthat the President see Lopez Bravo.\n2. That you meet with Lopez Bravo yourself.\nApprove\nApril 10\ntime\nApril 11\ntime\nDisapprove\nSECRET - GDS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nGregorio LÓPEZ BRAVO de Castro\nSPAIN\n(Phonetic: LOWpehz BRAHvoh)\nMinister of Foreign Affairs\nAddressed as: Mr. Minister\nIn October 1969 Gregorio López Bravo relinquished\nthe Industry portfolio he had held for 7 years to become\nMinister of Foreign Affairs. He is among the members of\nthe powerful, semi-secret Catholic lay organization Opus\nDei in the Cabinet. López Bravo has been described as the\nprototype of the nonideological technocrat whom General\nFranco has apparently decided to entrust with Spain's future.\nHe is the best-known Spanish official after General Franco\nand Prince Juan Carlos. López Bravo is extremely ambitious\npolitically and has a good chance of becoming President of\nGovernment (Prime Minister) following the transition from\nthe Franco regime.\nSince taking office, the influential, dynamic and\nEurope-oriented López Bravo has focused his foreign policy\non closer relations with Western Europe and the Common Mar-\nket. He is an active advocate of close economic cooperation\nwith Europe and the United States, and he has worked to ex-\ntend this advocacy to the political sphere. López Bravo has\nreplaced his predecessor's \"hard line\" toward the UK over\nGibraltar with quiet diplomacy. And, at the expense of con-\nsiderable criticism from conservative elements in the govern-\nment and military, he has launched a Spanish \"ostpolitik\"\nwhich approaches relations with Communist governments on\npractical, rather than ideological, grounds.\nLópez Bravo is a naval engineer by profession. One of\nthe youngest Cabinet members (49), he is extremely capable\nand alert. The Minister has a quick smile and a keenly in-\nterested manner. Since his appointment as Foreign Minister,\nhe has traveled widely and with considerable publicity. López\nBravo is married to the former Maria Angeles Velasco Schmidt\nand has nine children. He speaks English, French and some\nGerman.\nDECLASSIFIED\nE.O. 13526, Section 3.5\nApril 1973\nPer Hr. 6/11/2015 NLN13-65/17301\nBy RSIMH NARA, Date 5/27/2022\n[p.lof I]\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n1922\nMEMORANDUM\n1250\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nApril 9, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nDR KISSINGER\nFROM:\nDAVID PARKER\nTo confirm the telephone conversation with your\noffice of Saturday, April 7th, the President will\nnot be able to visit with Foreign Minister Bravo\nas you had requested.\nIf you have any questions in this regard, please\ncall.\n1713 VbB 10 VII 8 $2\nOELICE\nBECEIVED\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nRECEIVED\nKISSINGER'S OFFICE\n1973 APR 10 AM 8 45\nC9JI'\nIt Ãon pule sul dreactore TU FPT# redgig' bjegee\n92 Aom usq\nwof pe appe fo ATRTF MTFP LOLGIAN BL9A0\nOFFICE of VOLTI 1ff' fye MITI\nLO COULTER fye MICH Aont\nLBOW:\nDVAID БУККЕВ\nLOK:\nDB ктегтисев\nA a' талз\nМУЗНІЙСТОЙ\nTHE MHILE HONSE\n1510\nМИЦИАЯОМЯМ\nTTS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n1250\nGregorio LOPEZ BRAVO de Castro\nSPAIN\n(Phonetic: LOWpehz BRAHvoh)\nMinister of Foreign Affairs\nAddressed as: Mr. Minister\nIn October 1969 Gregorio López Bravo, 46,\nrelinquished the Industry portfolio he had held\nfor 7 years to become Minister of Foreign Affairs.\nHe is among the representatives of the powerful,\nsemi-secret Catholic lay organization Opus Dei in\nthe Cabinet. López Bravo has been described as\nthe prototype of the nonideological technocrat\nwhom General Franco has apparently decided to\nentrust with Spain's future. He is considered a\nrising new power in the country.\nIn the year that he has been in office, the\ninfluential, dynamic and Europe-oriented López\nBravo has focused his foreign policy on closer\nrelations with Western Europe and the Common Mar-\nket. He is an active advocate of close economic\ncooperation with Europe and the United States,\nand he has worked to extend this advocacy to the\npolitical sphere. The Foreign Minister recently\nplayed a key role in the US-Spanish bases agree-\nment negotiations.\nLópez Bravo is a naval engineer by profession.\nOne of the youngest Cabinet members, he has\nacquired a reputation for being extremely capable\nand alert. The Minister has a quick smile and a\nkeenly interested manner. Since his appointment\nas Foreign Minister, he has traveled widely and\nwith considerable publicity to Western Europe and\nthe United States. López Bravo is married to the\nformer María Angeles Velasco Schmidt and has nine\nchildren. He speaks English, French and some\nGerman.\nJanuary 1971\nDECLASSIFIED\nE.O. 13526, Section 3.5\nPer Hr. 6/11/2015 NLN13-65/17302\nBy IMH NARA, Date 5/27/2022\n[p.1.f I]\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nEl Iefe del Estado\nGeneralisimo de los Ejércitos Nacionales\nMadrid, 10 de abril de 1970\nA Su Excelencia Richard Nixon\nPresidente de los\nEstados Unidos de América.\nMi querido Presidente:\nMe ha complacido mucho la carta de Vuestra Exce-\nlencia que me entregó mi Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores a su regreso\nde Washington.\nMi Gobierno y yo mismo deseamos continuar la COO\nperación de España y los Estados Unidos de América para contribuir a\nla seguridad de nuestros dos pueblos y a la defensa del mundo libre. El\nespíritu de nuestra colaboración debe seguir constituyendo un factor de\npaz y de estabilidad internacional. Entiendo, sin embargo, que nuestros\nAcuerdos han de ser actualizados a la luz de las circunstancias presen-\ntes, dentro de un espíritu de realismo y en consonancia con la amistad\ny el entendimiento que han caracterizado nuestras relaciones. España\nespera mucho de la cooperación con los Estados Unidos de América y\nconfío en que las negociaciones ya iniciadas desemboquen pronto en\nunas fórmulas positivas y satisfactorias para ambas Partes.\nTengo el mejor recuerdo de la visita que Vuestra Ex\ncelencia tuvo la amabilidad de hacerme en Barcelona el año 1963 y sería\npara mí una gran satisfacción que, en la fecha que le resultara más con\nveniente, me hiciera el honor de aceptar esta invitación para una estan-\ncia en mi país como Presidente de la gran nación americana.\nMuy afectuosamente,\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT or STATE\n*\n*\nAMERICA UNITED\nDepartment of State\nTELEGRAM\nSTATES OF\nRobert\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\n502\nPAGE 01 MADRID 04282 3107377\n10\nACTION CPR-02\nINFO OCT-01 EUR-25 ADP-00 NSC-10 PA-03 RSC-01 SS=15\nUSIA-15 PRS-01 NSCE-00 RSR-01 1074 W\n096591\nR 3017117 JUL 73\nFM AMEMBASSY MADRID\nTO SECSTATE WASHDC 6330\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE MADRID 4282\nE.O. 11652 N/A\nTAGS: PDEV, SP, US\nSUBJECT: GENERAL FRANCO'S REPLY TO PRESIDENT NIXON'S\nNATIONAL DAY MESSAGE,\nREF STATE 137515\n1. IN REPLY MESSAGE SENT PURSUANT REFTEL, FOLLOWING\nMESSAGE (TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH) ADDRESSED BY GENERAL\nFRANCO TO PRESIDENT NIXON IN MFA NOTE JULY 23 RECEIVED\nBY EMBASSY JULY 28.\n2. \"I AM INDEED VERY GRATEFUL TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, IN THE\nNAME OF THE SPANISH PEOPLE AND MY OWN, FOR THE WARM\nGREETING WHICH YOU SEND ME ON THE OCCASION OF THE NATIONAL\nDAY OF SPAIN. I ALSO HOPE THAT THE CORDIAL RELATIONS\nWHICH UNITE OUR TWO COUNTRIES WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP\nIN THE FUTURE IN ALL SECTORS FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT. WITH\nMY HIGH CONSIDERATION AND PERSONAL ESTEEM, FRANCISCO\nFRANCO\".\nRIVERO\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\n5-\nFORM\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n(33549)\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nINFORMATION\nOctober 21, 1971\nTHE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nYour Letter to Franco @ on U.S. Oceans Policy\nty\nGENERAL HAIG\nSUBJECT:\nA conflict between General Franco's and the Vice President's schedules\nmakes it impractical for the Vice President to deliver your letter to\nFranco. All the reasons for sending such a letter, however, remain.\nIn addition, we now have a solid indication from Madrid that the\nSpaniards are having second thoughts about going up against us on the\nLaw of the Sea, and that a letter from you may very well precipitate a\nchange in the Spanish position.\nWe have, therefore, deleted the references to the Vice President, and\nsent your letter to Ambassador Hill for delivery to Franco.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20506\n33549\nSECRET\nOctober 19, 1971\nMEMORANDUM FOR\nMr. Theodore L. Eliot, Jr.\nExecutive Secretary\nDepartment of State\nSUBJECT:\nLetter to General Franco on U.S. Oceans\nPolicy\n:\nAttached is the President's letter to General Franco on U.S.\noceans policy. We believe the signed letter should be delivered\nto Franco by Ambassador Hill as soon as possible rather than\ncabling the text initially for delivery to Franco, to be followed\nby a signed original.\nJeanne mm W. Davis\nStaff Secretary\nAttachment\nSECRET\nDispatched @ 1810 19 October 1971. Rcpt 2794. Cys to Wright, Sonnenfeldt,\nStaff App'1, R.M. WOODS. R.J.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n(33549)\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nGENERAL HAIG\nSUBJECT:\nYour Letter to Franco on U.S. Oceans Policy\nA conflict between General Franco's and the Vice President's schedules\nmakes it impossible for the Vice President to deliver your letter to\nFranco. All the reasons for sending such a letter, however, remain.\nIn addition, we now have a solid indication from Madrid that the Spaniards\nare having second thoughts about going up against us on the Law of the\nSea, and that a letter from you may very well precipitate a change in the\nSpanish position.\nWe have therefore redrafted the letter to provide for its delivery by\nAmbassador Hill. It is otherwise identical to the one previously signed.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the letter at Tab A.\nRugin Ltr Haig few\nHAR fn Pres\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nA\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\n(33549)\nSECRET\nACTION\nOctober 19, 1971\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nGENERAL HAIG\nFROM:\nHAL SONNENFELDT\nMARSHALL WRIGHT\nthe\nSUBJECT:\nPresidential Letter to Franco on\nLaw of the Sea\nAttached is a redraft of the President's letter to Franco to provide\nfor its delivery by Bob Hill, rather than the Vice President.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the memo to the President at Tab I.\nis\nAl: I think perfant if to fat in this the\nin signed original d sent to (hillrather it first. wore\nAH: dagree, and\nthey is exactly what\nthan Prancepressed cabbinguich is documents. with real,\nwe are doing now\nsigned\nto\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS PROJECT\nDOCUMENT CONTROL RECORD\nITEM REMOVED FROM THIS FILE FOLDER\nA RESTRICTED DOCUMENT OR CASE FILE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM\nTHIS FILE FOLDER. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM REMOVED\nAND THE REASON FOR ITS REMOVAL, CONSULT DOCUMENT ENTRY\nNUMBER\n8\nON EITHER THE DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD\n(GSA FORM 7279 OR NA FORM 1421) OR NARA WITHDRAWAL SHEET\n(GSA FORM 7122) LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THIS FILE FOLDER.\nA sanitized copy substituted for an original item which\ncontains information restricted under the Privacy Act.\nNATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION\nNLN Form 101 (revised 6-85)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE\nDOC\nRECD\nLOG NBR NITIAL ACTION O\nMO\nDA\nMO DA HR\n4\n\"\n4\n11\n12\n2002\nLOG IN/OUT 8m0 ONLY\nSonsesfeldt\nTO: PRES\nFROM: ROGERS\nUNCLAS\nNO FORN\nNODIS\nSOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION\nkissinger\nX\nRICHARDSON\nLOU\nEYES ONLY\nEXDIS\nSCOWCROFT\nSCHLESINGER\nC\nCODEWORD\nELIOT\nx\nS\nSENSITIVE\nTS\nSUBJECT: Tasken for for to mt, will Foreign Miniter Lopez\nDravo on Apr 11 delari ltR from Franco\nREFERENCE: S/S\nOTHER\nNOT XEROXED\nINTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION\nACTION REQUIRED\nACTION\nREC\nINFO\nCY\nMEMO FOR HAK\n(\n)\nADVANCE CYS TO hak/scowcroft\nFOR\nMEMO FOR PRES.\n(\n)\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nREPLY FOR\n(\n)\nFAR EAST\nAPPROPRIATE ACTION\n(\n)\nDISTRIBUTION/INITIAL ACTION ASGMT\nSUB-SAHARAN AFRICA\nMEMO\nTO\n(\n)\nMID EAST / NO. AFRICA / so. ASIA\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n(\n)\nEUROPE / CANADA\nJOINT MEMO\n(\n)\nLATIN AMERICA\nREFER TO\nFOR:\n(\n)\nUNITED NATIONS\nANY ACTION NECESSARY?\n(\n)\nECONOMIC\nCONCURRENCE\n(\n)\nSCIENTIFIC\nDUE DATE:\nNET assessment GROUP\nprogram ANALYSIS\nCOMMENTS: (INCLUDING SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS)\nNSC PLANNING\nCONGRESSIONAL\nOCEANS POLICY\nIF NO ACTION, RETURN W/PROFILE FOR FILES. IF CONVENIENCE CY NEEDED, PLEASE INDICATE:\nDATE\nFROM\nTO\nS\nSUBSEQUENT\nCY TO\n4/11\nSom\nHan\nX\nTalkers you ACTION fres required (OR (4/11) TAKEN):\nSUBSEQUENT ROUTING/ACTIONS\n4/11\n4/11\nJosel by 1922+ 1250\nnoted by Pres\n4/11\nReid Franco export via Pres\n4/11\nA'Joldt\nS\nThen In HAR (4/17)\n4/20\nHs\nNSC/S\nSend to State fn draft Reply\n4/28\nReal State recom 1730 34\nSUBSEQUENT ROUTING/ACTIONS\n4/28\ns'feldt\nS\nmemo for HAR (5/4)\nS/4\nLerysta\nRGC\nPies to sgn Jor to Franco\n15/10\n5/16\nPres\nP\nsgn ltr to Franco\n5/17\nPres sgal ltr to hanco\nDISPATCH\nNOTIFY Woods\n& DATE\nMICROFILM & FILE RQMTS:\nSPECIAL DISPOSITION)\nM/F'D ABC\nBY\nOR RECORD COMMENT:)\nNSC/S DISP INSTR\nCY RQMTS: SEE ABOVE PLUS:\nCYS FOR\nSA\nMAY\n41973\nHP\nJOINED BY LOG # 1922+ 1250\nORIG\n)\nWH\nCROSS REF W/\nTO\n)\nPA\nX\n)\nSF\nsee #\nFOR FINAL ACTION & FILING.\n)\nNS\n)\nEP\nsuspense CY ATTACHED:\nDESTROY)\nDY\n* GPO: 1973-489-668\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nOctober 18, 1971\nGeneral Haig:\nMr. Sonnenfeldt says Mike Dunn advises that\nthe Vice President has no plans to go on to\nMadrid unless directed to do some from this\nend.\nMr. Sonnenfeldt needs to talk with you about\nthis.\n7\nLora\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDent to state\nfor translation at\nSITUATION ROOM\nWHITE HOUSE\n'71 JUL 20 PM 7 7:52\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nThe White House\nWashington\n1971 JUL 20 PM 6 54\nWN2 62 VIA RCA\nMADRID SPAIN 20 JULY 1971 1800\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTHE WHITEHOUSE WASHINGTONDC\nAGRADEZCO VIVAMENTE A VUESTRA EXCELENCIA EL EFUSIVO MENSAJE DE\nFELICITACION QUE ME ENVIA CON OCASION DE LA FIESTA NACIONAL DE\n3\nESPANA Y A MI VEZ FORMULO LOS MAS FERVIESTES VOTOS POR LA\nFORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U. S. A. U.S.A.\nFELICIDAD PERSONAL DE VUESTRA EXCELENCIA Y LA PROSPERIDAD DE\nVUESTRO PUEBLO\n2\nFRANCISCO FRANCO JEFE DEL ESTADO ESPANOL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\n(33549)\nSECRET\nACTION\nPres\nOctober 19, 1971\nPreprins\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nGENERAL HAIG\nFROM:\nHAL SONNENFELDT\nMARSHALL WRIGHT new\nSUBJECT:\nPresidential Letter to Franco on\nLaw of the Sea\nAttached is a redraft of the President's letter to Franco to provide\nfor its delivery by Bob Hill, rather than the Vice President.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the memo to the President at Tab I.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n(33549)\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nGENERAL HAIG\nSUBJECT:\nYour Letter to Franco on U.S. Oceans Policy\nA conflict between General Franco's and the Vice President's schedules\nmakes it impossible for the Vice President to deliver your letter to\nFranco. All the reasons for sending such a letter, however, remain.\nIn addition, we now have a solid indication from Madrid that the Spaniards\nare having second thoughts about going up against us on the Law of the\nSea, and that a letter from you may very well precipitate a change in the\nSpanish position.\nWe have therefore redrafted the letter to provide for its delivery by\nAmbassador Hill. It is otherwise identical to the one previously signed.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the letter at Tab A.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nMAY 1970 rela\n9314\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nINFORMATION\nMay 4, 1970\nMICROFILM\nDATA\nDO\nINIT\nDATE\n5/8\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nORIG)\nNSC\nTO\n)\nPAF\nFROM:\nHenry A. Kissinger\nWHC\nSUBF\nSUBJECT:\nLetter from General Franco; Spanish Base Negotiations\nSpanish Foreign Minister Lopez Bravo was in Washington April 13-14\nto continue discussions with Secretary Rogers and Under Secretary\nJohnson on our military facilities in Spain and the proposed general\nagreement for cooperation. Lopez Bravo stated that the Spanish\nGovernment is willing for the U.S. to maintain all our facilities in\nSpain, though he made plain that Spain would in return need material\nassistance to ensure its security. Differences in the draft texts of\nthe general agreement of cooperation have been narrowed. There is\nstill a hope on both sides that full agreement will be reached in order\nto enable Secretary Rogers to sign an agreement during his May 29\nvisit to Madrid.\nLopez Bravo gave the Secretary a letter from General Franco to you\n(the text is at Tab A) in reply to your letter of March 18 (Tab B).\nFranco's letter is very warm, and makes the following points:\n-- he wishes to continue Spanish-US cooperation in order\nto contribute to our mutual security and the defense of the West;\n-- Spain places great hopes in cooperation with us, and\ntrusts that the negotiations will soon lead to positive results;\n-- Franco has most pleasant memories of your visit to\nhim in 1963, and would be very happy if, at a convenient time, you would\naccept his invitation to visit Spain as President.\nSince Franco's letter is in response to your letter, I do not think any\nreply is necessary.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nRECEIVED\nWHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nLebja T8\n1970 MAY 4 AM 11 10\nYas xaids for ob I ,Tettel of ni ai Istiel e'ocast?\n8.6 risqe tiaiv of noisstival aid\nprior TX3 1993' suq MONTH ps AGIA psbbl It' Sf B two Aom мопта\nof disiv AUOV 10 asiromem insesselq teom and\nevitisoq of bsel поов Hiw anoitsitogen odd tsds ejects\nbas en driw ni esqod tsery assist nisq2\n:JeeW odd to sameleb odd bas Isstum TUO of studition of\nISDIO ni noitsvegooo 2U-deinsq2 continue of aedaiw ed\nTerrer 78 AGIA MSLIU' sug fire boruse:\n.(8 deT) 81 dorsM 10 Istial THOY of viger ai (A dsT is ai txed edt)\nrober BLSAO STAG per $ Jemes [LOIU ELSUCO FO Aon\n.bizbsM of tiaiv\nes vsM sid gairob insureerys as ngie of ятэдоя eldsne of\nS pohe OU porp arges ppst Un streement ATT pc rescued INJ orger\nfue RENGIST OF coobenstion USAG peeu USLLOMGQ LUGLE T?\nto asset tistb add ni ati STURNS of\nIsivetem been minjer ai bloow risq2 teds nisiq ebsm ed dgoodt ,nisqe\nni THO He mistaism of .8.0 edi Tot gailliw ai\ndainsq2 odd deds betste ovsrd seqal .noitsreqoos TOI insurergs\nIstensy besoqoiq add bas risq8 ni asitilios) vistilim TUO no повало\nTobaU bas ятедоЯ VISISTOSE drive continue 03\nLOLGIBU robes BLSAO MSE TIJ Msepington VOLTI 13*14\nBABIECL:\n[LOW COUGLET ELSUCO! B986\nSUBE\nEBOW\nHEVLA V'\nMHC\nTO\nLVE\nLOB LHE BREZIDEML\nOHIC)\nИЗС\nDVLE\nINIL\nDO\nWSA ₹ 1030\nNIGBOLITH\nDVLV\nМУЗНӀМОЛОД\nHUOH STIHW SHT\nAFTA\nЧЕМОКУИДОМ\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nGDA\nELIBRE\nBUR\nA Su Excelencia Richard Nixon\nPresidente de los\nESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nA\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n9314\ndepartment OF STATE\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nS/S 5676\nUNCLASSIFIED\nApril 15, 1970\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. HENRY KISSINGER\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Letter for the President from\nGeneral Franco of Spain\nEnclosed is a letter from General Franco to\nthe President, which was handed to the Secretary\nby Spanish Foreign Minister Lopez Bravo on April\n13. An official translation of the letter is also\nenclosed.\nAs this letter is a reply to the President's\nletter to Franco given to Lopez Bravo last month,\nthe Department recommends that no reply be made.\nmr\nTheodore L. Eliot, Jr.\nExecutive Secretary\nEnclosures:\n1. Letter from Gen. Franco\n2. Official Translation\nUNCLASSIFIED\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE CHIEF OF THE SPANISH STATE\nGeneralissimo of the National Armies\nMadrid, April 10, 1970\nDear Mr. President:\nI was very gratified by Your Excellency's letter\nwhich my Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered to me\non his return from Washington.\nMy Government and I myself wish to continue the\ncooperation between Spain and the United States of\nAmerica in order to contribute to the security of our\ntwo countries and to the defense of the free world.\nOur spirit of cooperation should continue to be a factor\nfor peace and international stability. I fully realize,\nhowever, that our Agreements must be updated in the light\nof present-day circumstances, in a spirit of realism and\nin consonance with the friendship and understanding that\nhave characterized our relations. Spain places great\nhopes in the cooperation with the United States of America\nand trusts that the negotiations already under way will\nsoon lead to positive formulas satisfactory to both\nparties.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n- 2 -\nI have most pleasant memories of the visit Your\nExcellency paid me in Barcelona in 1963, and I should\nbe very happy if, at such time as would be most con-\nvenient for you, you would do me the honor of accepting\nthis invitation to visit my country as President of\nyour great nation.\nCordially yours,\n/signed/ F. Franco\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nB\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS PROJECT\nDOCUMENT CONTROL RECORD\nITEM REMOVED FROM THIS FILE FOLDER\nA RESTRICTED DOCUMENT OR CASE FILE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM\nTHIS FILE FOLDER. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM REMOVED\nAND THE REASON FOR ITS REMOVAL, CONSULT DOCUMENT ENTRY\nNUMBER 6 ON EITHER THE DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD\n(GSA FORM 7279 OR NA FORM 1421) OR NARA WITHDRAWAL SHEET\n(GSA FORM 7122) LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THIS FILE FOLDER.\nA sanitized copy substituted for an original item which\ncontains information restricted under the Privacy Act.\nNATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION\nNLN Form 101 (revised 6-85)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT\nSUBJECT:\nSpanish Opposition to US Oceans Policy/Straits\nProposal\nContinuing Spanish opposition to the US proposal for freedom of\ntransit through international straits has given me cause for deep\nconcern. In the letter accompanying this memorandum, I have\nwritten General Franco to express that concern, to review the\nsecurity considerations underlying our straits proposal, and to\nemphasize the great importance we attach to international accep-\ntance of that proposal.\nPlease deliver this letter personally, reemphasizing the importance\nwe attach to our straits proposal and our hope that Spain will join us\nin safeguarding the vital interests involved. I have instructed\nAmbassador Hill and the Department of State Legal Advisor to\naccompany you on this call.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY council\n33549\nSECRET\nURGENT ACTION\nOctober 12, 1971\nMEMORANDUM Stow FOR HENRY A. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\nMarshall Wright\nIm\nSUBJECT:\nSpanish Opposition to U.S. Oceans Policy/Straits Proposal\nSpanish Foreign Minister Lopez Bravo has become a major barrier to the\nsuccess of our Law of the Sea policy. He has been both active and effective\nin opposing our proposal for free passage through international straits.\nWithout international agreement to such free passage, the broadening of\nterritorial waters to 12 miles will very seriously endanger the mobility\nof our strategic forces.\nAmbassador Hill returned from Spain for a meeting chaired by Alex Johnson\non this problem last week. Deputy Secretary Packard, Admiral Moorer,\nAdmiral Zumwalt, and Alex Johnson are all agreed that it is time to move\nhard with Spain on this issue. Hill believes that General Franco and Vice\nPresident Carrero Blanco will be much more sympathetic to our position\nthan Lopez Bravo has proved to be. To enlist Franco's aid, we need a\nPresidential communication. To underline further the importance we attach\nto the issue, it is proposed to have the letter delivered by Vice President\nAgnew when he stops in Spain on October 22 on his way back from Iran.\n(Agnew made a very good impression on Franco in his last visit to Spain.)\nAttached is a memo to the President which explains the issue, asks the\nPresident to sign a letter to General Franco, and an instruction to Vice\nPresident Agnew to deliver the letter.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you initial the memo to the President at Tab A.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nOctober 19, 1971\nDear General Franco:\nAs you know, the United States has put forward a law of\nthe sea proposal which would provide for a right of free\ntransit through and overflight of international straits.\nThe successful negotiation of this right and of our pro-\nposal for a twelve mile territorial sea at the Law of the\nSea Conference scheduled for 1973 is of the highest im-\nportance to the United States and, we believe, to the\nsecurity of the West. I was disturbed, therefore, to\nlearn that Spanish officials have expressed opposition\nto this proposal at various international gatherings, in-\ncluding the General Assembly of the United Nations.\nWe believe that the right of free transit is essential for\npreserving the mobility of both our general purpose and\nnuclear deterrent forces, not only in meeting our com-\nmitments in Western Europe, but in fulfilling our respon-\nsibilities in other parts of the world as well. This right\nwould be an objective one, established by international\nagreement and applicable to all straits used for interna-\ntional navigation. We do not think that the present inter-\nnational law right of innocent passage is sufficient for\nWestern security requirements because it is a subjective\nstandard, does not include the right of overflight, and\ncarries a requirement that submarines must navigate on\nthe surface.\nYour Government has closely identified itself with the\nWestern defense effort and we are pleased to know that\nyou anticipate an even more active role in the future. I\nam confident, too, that Spain shares the concern of many\nDECLASSIFIED\nE.O. 13526, Section 3.5\nSECRET\nPer 6/11/2015 13-65/17306\nBy RS IMH NARA, Date 5/27/2022\n[2.10f 8]\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n2\nWestern nations over the recent increase in Soviet naval\nstrength in the Mediterranean. It is to counter this\npotential threat by maintaining the maximum strategic\nflexibility for our own forces and those of our allies that\nwe have proposed a right of free transit through and over\ninternational straits. We have concluded that an inter-\nnational agreement recognizing this right would benefit\nall countries interested in maintaining the political and\nmilitary balance on which world stability is presently\nbased.\nWe have discussed these issues with officials of your\nGovernment and will continue to do so, but I wanted you\n&\nto know of my deep personal concern. I will welcome\nyour views on this subject and have therefore asked\nAmbassador Hill to deliver this letter personally to you\nand to provide you with any additional information on\nthis issue which you may require.\nWith warm regards,\nSincerely,\nRichard nife\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n33549\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nACTION\nOctober 15, 1971\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHenry A. Kissinger IK\nSUBJECT:\nSpanish Opposition to US Oceans Policy/Straits\nProposal\nAlex Johnson has recommended (Tab C) that you send a letter to General\nFranco expressing your deep concern over continuing Spanish opposition\nto the US proposal for freedom of transit through international straits.\nWith your approval, the letter would be delivered by the Vice President\nduring his stop in Spain on October 22, enroute to Washington from Iran.\nThe United States considers international acceptance of the straits proposal\nessential to safeguard the desired mobility of our strategic forces -- and,\naccordingly, essential to a successful 1973 U.N. Law of the Sea Conference.\nSpain, while agreeing to our proposal for a 12-mile territorial sea, advocates\nadhering to the present \"right of innocent passage\" through international\nstraits. A 12-mile territorial sea would eliminate all free high seas in\nstraits less than 24 miles wide, including Gibraltar. \"Innocent passage\"\nwould not permit us freedom of overflight and submerged passage of sub-\nmarines. The Spanish position would also deny automatic passage rights\nto large tankers, atomic fueled vessels, and vessels carrying atomic\nweapons.\nState and Defense are agreed that persistent Spanish opposition to our straits\nproposal is seriously damaging to US and Western security interests. The\nlonger Spanish opposition continues the less chance our straits proposal has\nof acceptance. Unfortunately, Spanish Foreign Minister Lopez Bravo has\nbeen unwilling to recognize the merits of our position, having condemned our\nfreedom of transit proposal as recently as October 1 in a speech before the\nU.N. General Assembly. We believe that General Franco may be more\nsympathetic to our position, and that a personal message from you to General\nFranco might lead Spain to accommodate our security needs. To have your\nletter delivered by the Vice President would, of course, underscore the\nintensity of your concern.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n-2-\nThe text of your letter to General Franco (at Tab B and approved by Ray\nPrice), states your deep concern over Spain's present position, reviews\nthe national security considerations underlying our straits proposal, notes\nthe common interest that Spain, the United States and the West have in\npreserving freedom of strategic mobility, and invites Franco's views on\nthis question.\nThe covering memorandum to the Vice President at Tab A would instruct\nhim to deliver your letter to General Franco.\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n1) That you sign the letter to General Franco at Tab B.\n2) That you sign the covering memorandum to the Vice President at Tab A.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\nDear General Franco:\nI am writing in regard to the United States law of\nthe sea proposal for a right of free transit through and\noverflight of international straits. The successful\nnegotiation of this right together with our proposal\nfor a twelve mile territorial sea at the Law of the\nSea Conference scheduled for 1973 is of the highest\nimportance to the United States and, we believe, to\nevery maritime nation. Therefore, I am deeply disturbed\nto learn that Spanish officials have expressed strong\nopposition to the right of free transit, as proposed by\nthe U.S., at numerous international gatherings, including\nthe General Assembly of the United Nations.\nWe believe that the right of free transit is\nessential for preserving the mobility of both our\ngeneral purpose and nuclear deterrent forces not only\nto serve our mutual defense interests and meet our\ncommitments in Western Europe but to fulfill our\nresponsibilities in other parts of the world as well.\nThis right would be an objective one, established by\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde,\nChief of the Spanish State,\nMadrid.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n-2-\ninternational agreement and applicable to all straits\nused for international navigation. We do not think\nthat the present international law right of innocent\npassage is sufficient for Western security requirements\nbecause it is a subjective standard, does not include\na right of overflight, and carries a requirement that\nsubmarines navigate on the surface.\nYour Government has, of course, closely identified\nitself with the Western defense effort and conceives\nits future role as being an even more active participant\nin this effort. Moreover, I am confident that Spain\nshares the concern of many Western nations over the\nrecent increase in Soviet naval strength in the\nMediterranean. It is to counter this potential threat\nby maintaining the maximum strategic flexibility for\nour own forces and those of our allies that we have\nproposed a right of free transit through and over\ninternational straits. We have concluded that\ninternational agreement recognizing this right would\nbenefit all countries interested in maintaining the\npolitical and military balance on which present world\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n-3- -\nstability is based. We have, and we will continue to\ndiscuss these issues with the officials of your Government,\nbut I wanted you to know of my own deep concern. There-\nfore, I have asked the Vice President personally to deliver\nthis letter to you. He will, of course, also be pleased to\ndiscuss the matter further with you and to hear your own\nviews on this question.\nSincerely,\nRichard Nixon\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSEGRET\n-2-\nWestern nations over the recent increase in Soviet naval\nstrength in the Mediterranean. It is to counter this poten-\ntial threat by maintaining the maximum strategic flexi-\nbility for our own forces and those of our allies that we\nhave proposed a right of free transit through and over\ninternational straits. We have concluded that an interna-\ntional agreement recognizing this right would benefit all\ncountries interested in maintaining the political and mili-\ntary balance on which world stability is presently based.\nWe have discussed these issues with officials of your\nGovernment and will continue to do so, but I wanted you to\nknow of my deep personal concern. This is why I have\nasked the Vice President personally to deliver this letter\nto you. I will welcome your views on this subject and I\nknow that the Vice President will also be pleased to dis-\ncuss the matter further with you.\nWith warm regards,\nSincerely,\nRichard Nifer\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS PROJECT\nDOCUMENT CONTROL RECORD\nITEM REMOVED FROM THIS FILE FOLDER\nA RESTRICTED DOCUMENT OR CASE FILE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM\nTHIS FILE FOLDER. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM REMOVED\nAND THE REASON FOR ITS REMOVAL, CONSULT DOCUMENT ENTRY\nNUMBER 9 ON EITHER THE DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD\n(GSA FORM 7279 OR NA FORM 1421) OR NARA WITHDRAWAL SHEET\n(GSA FORM 7122) LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THIS FILE FOLDER.\nA sanitized copy substituted for an original item which\ncontains information restricted under the Privacy Act.\nNATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION\nNLN Form 101 (revised 6-85)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDOC\nRECD\nLOG NBR\nINITIAL ACTION OFF\nMO DA\nMO DA HR\nNSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE\n10\n8\n10\n9\n13\n33549\nLOG IN/OUT ONLY\nTO: PRES X\nFROM: ELIOT\nU\nNO FORN\nNODIS\nKISSINGER\nrogers, W\nLOU\nBUO\nEXDIS\nDOC SOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION\nHAIG\nLAIRD, M\nC\nEYES ONLY\nLIMDIS\nJohnson, U.A.\nf\nS\nCODE WORD\nRES DATA\nSUBJECT: U.S. Oceans Policy: Spanish TS Opp osition sensitive to the\nU.S. Straits Proposal-Su, Hr to Franco\nREFERENCE: S/S 7115951 OTHER\nNOT xeroxed\nAPP'TS:\nPRES\nHAK\nTALKER\nMEMCON\nDATE REQ.\nINTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION\nACTION REQUIRED\nACTION\nINFO\nREC\nmemo FOR HAK\n(\n)\nCY\nADVANCE CYS TO HAK/HAIG\nFOR\nMEMO FOR PRES.\n(\n+\n)\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nRERLY for\nSIGNATURE\n(\n)\nFAR EAST\nFOR DISTRIBUTION/DISPATCH\n(\n)\nSECRETARIAT DISTRIBUTION/ACTION\nSUB-SAHARAN AFRICA\nTO\n(\n)\nNR EAST/NORTH AFRICA\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n(\n)\nEUROPE/CANADA\nl\nJOINT MEMO\n(\n)\nLATIN AMERICA\nREFER TO STATE\n(\n)\nUNITED NATIONS\nX\nANY ACTION NECESSARY\n(\n)\nECONOMIC\nCONCURRENCE\n(\n)\nSCIENTIFIC\nDUE DATE:\nLR PLANNING\nCOMMENTS: (Including Special 10/10 Instructions)\nPROGRAM ANALYSIS\nNSC PLANNING\nCONGRESSIONAL\nDATE\nFROM\nTO\nS\nCY TO\n1012\nSONN\nHAK\nX\nPres ACTION REQUIRED for Signature (1016)\n10/15\nHAK\nPres\nP\nINTERNAL/INTERIM ROUTING\nSig thto have\n10/19\nwright\nHAK\nX\nPris to Segn th to franco\n10/19\nPRES\nSgD\nLTR To FRANCO.\n10/19\nWRigHT\n=\nNSC/S\n's'\nFURTHER ACTiON (10/20)\n10/19\n-00 to list\nCO/19\nthey\nx\nA Perfor Inped\nCROSS 10/21 REF WITH\nPus\nCIP\nNOTIFY\nInfo 10/26 noted m/rs DATE\nmicrofilm DATA\n10-19\nEliot done 10-19\nSEE LOG\nDISPATCH: LETTER/MEMO\nwordone\nDO\nJOINED BY LOG\ndone\n10-19\nDISPOSITION\nCOPIES: (AS MARKED ABOVE)\nM\nSample\nSA,\nHP,\nHM\n271971\nDATE\nSPECIAL FILE RQMT:\nNSC\nTO )\nPAF\nspecial DISPOSITION COMMENTS:\nWHC\nR\nSUSPENSE CY ATTACHED:\nYES\nNO\nSUBF\n# GPO: 1971-412-412\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n5\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n4\nDIPARTMENT OF\nSTATE #\nEd\nDepartment of State\nOF STATES AMERICA UNITED\nTELEGRAM\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\n836\nPAGE 01 STATE 114715\n41\nORIGIN CPR 02\nINFO OCT 01,EUR 17,SSC 01,JPM 04,NSC 10P 04,RSC øl,ss 20,USIA 12,\n/072 R\n66608\nDRAFTEED BY: S/CPR:DMJOHNSON\nAPPROVED BY: EMIL MOSBACHER, JR. CHIEF OF PROTOCOL\nEUR/SPP - MR. MOSS\nEUR-MISS TIBBETTS\nTHE WHITE HOUSE - MR. SONNENFELDT\nS/S-MR BROWN\nS/S-C=MRS. DENHAM\nS/S=S(C)\n062655\nR 111654Z JUL 69\nFM SECSTATE WASHDC\nTO AMEMBASSY MADRID\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE STATE 114715\nFY FOLLOWING MESSAGE WILL BE SENT DIRECT VIA COMMERCIAL\nCHANNELS TO GENERAL FRANCO JULY 18. QUOTE I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE\nIN CONVEYING TO YOU MY WARM PERSONAL GREETINGS AND THE BEST WISHES\nOF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THIS CELEBRATION\nOF YOUR NATIONAL HOLIDAY. MAY THE TIES OF MUTUAL FRIENDSHIP\nAND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES GROW EVEN STRONGER.\nRICHARD NIXON. UNQUOTE.\nDE RTMENT WILL RELEASE UPON CONFIRMATION BY EMBASSY OF RECEIPT\nB GENERAL UNLESS OBJECTION PERCEIVED. ROGERS:\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\n&\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n3\nDEPARTMENT\nOF\naurof\nSTATE\nEd\n*\nDepartment of State\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICAN\nTELEGRAM\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\n807\nPAGE 01 STATE 114691\n47\nORIGIN EUR 22\nINFO OCT 01,CPR 02,JPM 04,NSC 10,P 04,RSC 01,SS 20,USIA 12./076 R\n66607\nDRAFTED BY: EUR/SPP:AHMOSS\nAPPROVED BY: EUR/SPP GEORGE W. LANDAU\nS/S-S - MR. HORNBLOW\nEUR/ MISS TIBBETTS\n062593\nR 111644Z JUL 69\nFM SECSTATE WASHDC\nTO AMEMBASSY MADRID\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE STATE 114691\nSUBJECT FOURTH OF JULY MESSAGE\n1 - THE PRESIDENT HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSÃGE FROM\nGENERAL FRANCO:\nQUOTE ME ES MUY GRATO ENVIAR A VUESTRA EXCELENCIA CON MOTIVO\nFIESTA NACIONAL MI MAS CORDIAL Y SINCERA FELICITACION UNIDA\nA MIS MAS FERVIENTES VOTOS POR EL BIENESTAR PERSONAL DE VUESTRA\nEXCELENCIA Y LA PROSPERIDAD DE ESA NACION. FRANCISCO FRANCO,\nJEFE DEL ESTADO ESPANOL UNQUOTE\n2 THE FOLLOWING REPLY SHOULD BE TRANSMITTED TO GENERAL FRANCO:\nQUOTE DEAR GENERAL FRANCO : I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WARM\nME SAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS ON OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAY MAY THE YEARS\nAHEAD BRING EVER CLOSER RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO PEOPLES AND\nBRING US THAT JUST AND LASTING PEACE WHICH WE ALL SEEK.\nSINCERELY, RICHARD NIXON UNQUOTE\n3.0 THE WHITE HOUSE DOES NOT REPEAT NOT PLAN TO RELEASE THIS\nPROFY BUT HAS NO OBJECTION IF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT WISHES\nTO 00 SO ®\n4.0 DECONTROL UPON RECEIPT ROGERS\nLIMITED OFFICIAL USE\n32\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n2\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nEvesutive Order 13526 and has been determined to bei declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nCONFIDENTIAL\nACTION\nJune 19, 1969\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt HS/R\nSUBJECT: Presidential Letter to Franco\nDuring the preparations for renewal of the Defense Agreement with\nSpain, the Spanish let it be known that they would be very grateful if\nthe message to General Franco from the President, passed orally\non June 8, could be sent in written form. The message, as you recall,\nexpressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the renewal negotiations,\nand indicated the President's strong interest in the maintenance of\ngood relations with Spain.\nAlex Johnson has proposed that the letter be given to Castiella by\nSecretary Rogers at the time of the signing of the renewal on June 20\n(Tab B). I agree that this would probably help soothe Spanish feelings,\nand would be a desirable step.\nThere is a memorandum for the President at Tab A.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the memorandum at Tab A.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nA\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nCONFIDENTIAL\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHenry A. Kissinger\nSUBJECT: Letter to General Franco\nDuring the final preparations for the signing of the renewal of our\nDefense Agreement with Spain, the Spanish noted their great pleasure\nat your oral message of June 8 to General Franco, transmitted via\nAlex Johnson at State. You recall that you expressed your personal\nsatisfaction at the successful conclusion of the negotiations, and your firm\ndesire to ensure the maintenance of friendly relations between the United\nStates and Spain.\nAlex Johnson has recommended that you sign such a letter to be given to\nForeign Minister Castiella on June 20 at the time of the signing of the\nagreement. I agree that this would help soothe any hurt feelings that\nremain on the Spanish side, and would be a constructive preamble for\nthe further negotiations with the Spanish to which we look forward.\nAt Tab A is a letter for your signature.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the letter at Tab A.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nA\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT\nOF\nSTATE\nDepartment of State\nGRITING STATES OF AMERICA\nTELEGRAM\nSECRET 913\nPAGE 01 STATE 102138\n83\nORIGIN EUR 22\nINFO OCT 01,CPR 02,JPM 04,NSC 10,P 04,RSC 01,SS 20,USIE 00,SSO 00,\nNSCE 00,/064 R\n66641\nDRAFTED BY: EUR: SPP: JLSMITH\n33\nAPPROVED BY: EUR- MR HILLENBRAND\nEUR:SPP- MR GEBELT\nS/S= MR PARKER\n000595\nO 202350Z JUN 69 ZFF4\nFM SECSTATE WASHDC\nTO AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE\nINFO USCINCEUR FOR POLAD\nSECRE T STATE 102138\nSUBJECT- LETTER FROM PRESIDENT TO GENERAL FRANCO\n1 * FYI® FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF LETTER FROM PRESIDENT TO GENERAL\nFRANCO WHICH SECRETARY ROGERS HANDED TO FONMIN JUNE 20:\nBEGIN TEXT. DEAR GENERAL FRANCO:\nI WISH TO TELLI YOU HOW PLEASED I AM THAT OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS HAVE\nREACHED A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY UNDERSTANDING ON EXTENDING THE\nDEFENSE AGREEMENT OF 1953.\nAS I TOLD FOREIGN MINISTER CASTIELLA IN MARCH, IT IS MY FIRM\nDESIRE TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS\nBETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. I BELIEVE THAT THE UNDERSTANDING\nWHICH HAS BEEN REACHED PROVIDES A GOOD BASIS FOR FURTHER\nDISCUSSIONS. I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT I SHALL CLOSELY FOLLOW\nTHOSE DISCUSSIONS. I HOPE THAT THEY WILL RESULT INI EVEN BETTER\nRELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES.\nSINCERELY,\nRICHARD NIXON END TEXT\n2. SECRETARY INFORMED FONMIN THAT WE DID NOT PLAN RELEASE TEXT\nSECRET\n4 -\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nUNITED DEPARTMENT DEP * STATES AURON OF AMERICAN STATE #\nDepartment of State\nTELEGRAM\nOF\nSECRET\nPAGE 02 STATE 102138\nOF LETTER BUT GOS COULD DO SO IF THEY WISHED PROVIDED THEY\nINFORMED US WHEN THEY PLANNED TO MAKE RELEASE.\nROGERS\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n2135\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJune 20, 1969\nDear General Franco:\nI wish to tell you how pleased I am that our two\nGovernments have reached a mutually satisfactory\nunderstanding on extending the Defense Agreement\nof 1953.\nAs I told Foreign Minister Castiella in March, it\nis my firm desire to ensure the maintenance of\nfriendly relations between our two countries. I\nbelieve that the understanding which has been\nreached provides a good basis for further dis-\ncussions. I want to assure you that I shall closely\nfollow those discussions. I hope that they will\nresult in even better relations between our two\ncountries.\nSincerely,\nRichard net\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco\nChief of the Spanish State\nEl Pardo\nMadrid\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n2135\nCONFIDENTIAL\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHenry A. Kissinger\nSUBJECT: Letter to General Franco\nDuring the final preparations for the signing of the renewal of our\nDefense Agreement with Spain, the Spanish noted their great pleasure\nat your oral message of June 8 to General Franco, transmitted via\nAlex Johnson at State. You recall that you expressed your personal\nsatisfaction at the successful conclusion of the negotiations, and your firm\ndesire to ensure the maintenance of friendly relations between the United\nStates and Spain.\nAlex Johnson has recommended that you sign such a letter to be given to\nForeign Minister Castiella on June 20 at the time of the signing of the\nagreement. I agree that this would help soothe any hurt feelings that\nremain on the Spanish side, and would be a constructive preamble for\nthe further negotiations with the Spanish to which we look forward.\nAt Tab A is a letter for your signature.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the letter at Tab A,\nDRLesh:mm:6/19/69\nCopies\nSecretariat - 2\nWH file - 1\nHAK chron . - 1\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n2135\nCONFIDENTIAL\nACTION\nJune 19, 1969\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\nSUBJECT: Presidential Letter to Franco\nDuring the preparations for renewal of the Defense Agreement with\nSpain, the Spanish let it be known that they would be very grateful if\nthe message to General Franco from the President, passed orally\non June 8, could be sent in written form. The message, as you recall,\nexpressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the renewal negotiations,\nand indicated the President's strong interest in the maintenance of\ngood relations with Spain.\nAlex Johnson has proposed that the letter be given to Castiella by\nSecretary Rogers at the time of the signing of the renewal on June 20\n(Tab B). I agree that this would probably help soothe Spanish feelings,\nand would be a desirable step.\nThere is a memorandum for the President at Tab A.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the memorandum at Tab A.\nDL:mm\nCopies\nSecretariat - 2\nWH file - 1\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n/\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nOctober 19, 1971\nDear General Franco:\nAs you know, the United States has put forward a law of\nthe sea proposal which would provide for a right of free\ntransit through and overflight of international straits.\nThe successful negotiation of this right and of our pro-\nposal for a twelve mile territorial sea at the Law of the\nSea Conference scheduled for 1973 is of the highest im-\nportance to the United States and, we believe, to the\nsecurity of the West. I was disturbed, therefore, to\nlearn that Spanish officials have expressed opposition\nto this proposal at various international gatherings, in-\ncluding the General Assembly of the United Nations.\nWe believe that the right of free transit is essential for\npreserving the mobility of both our general purpose and\nnuclear deterrent forces, not only in meeting our com-\nmitments in Western Europe, but in fulfilling our respon-\nsibilities in other parts of the world as well. This right\nwould be an objective one, established by international\nagreement and applicable to all straits used for interna-\ntional navigation. We do not think that the present inter-\nnational law right of innocent passage is sufficient for\nWestern security requirements because it is a subjective\nstandard, does not include the right of overflight, and\ncarries a requirement that submarines must navigate on\nthe surface.\nYour Government has closely identified itself with the\nWestern defense effort and we are pleased to know that\nyou anticipate an even more active role in the future. I\nam confident, too, that Spain shares the concern of many\nDECLASSIFIED\nSECRET\nE.O. 13526, Section 3.5\nPer Hr. 6/11/2015 NLN 13-65/17308\nBy NARA, Date 5/27/2022\n[p. 10f 2]\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n2\nWestern nations over the recent increase in Soviet naval\nstrength in the Mediterranean. It is to counter this\npotential threat by maintaining the maximum strategic\nflexibility for our own forces and those of our allies that\nwe have proposed a right of free transit through and over\ninternational straits. We have concluded that an inter-\nnational agreement recognizing this right would benefit\nall countries interested in maintaining the political and\nmilitary balance on which world stability is presently\nbased.\nWe have discussed these issues with officials of your\nGovernment and will continue to do so, but I wanted you\nto know of my deep personal concern. I will welcome\nyour views on this subject and have therefore asked\nAmbassador Hill to deliver this letter personally to you\nand to provide you with any additional information on\nthis issue which you may require.\nWith warm regards,\nSincerely,\nRichard nifor\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nEl Jefe del Estado\nGeneralisimo de los Ejércitos Nacionales\nMadrid, 10 de abril de 1970\nA Su Excelencia Richard Nixon\nPresidente de los\nEstados Unidos de América.\nMi querido Presidente:\nMe ha complacido mucho la carta de Vuestra Exce-\nlencia que me entregó mi Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores a su regreso\nde Washington.\nMi Gobierno y yo mismo deseamos continuar la COO\nperación de España y los Estados Unidos de América para contribuir a\nla seguridad de nuestros dos pueblos y a la defensa del mundo libre. El\nespíritu de nuestra colaboración debe seguir constituyendo un factor de\npaz y de estabilidad internacional. Entiendo, sin embargo, que nuestros\nAcuerdos han de ser actualizados a la luz de las circunstancias presen-\ntes, dentro de un espíritu de realismo y en consonancia con la amistad\ny el entendimiento que han caracterizado nuestras relaciones. España\nespera mucho de la cooperación con los Estados Unidos de América y\nconfío en que las negociaciones ya iniciadas desemboquen pronto en\nunas fórmulas positivas y satisfactorias para ambas Partes.\nTengo el mejor recuerdo de la visita que Vuestra Ex\ncelencia tuvo la amabilidad de hacerme en Barcelona el año 1963 y sería\npara mí una gran satisfacción que, en la fecha que le resultará más con\nveniente, me hiciera el honor de aceptar esta invitación para una estan-\ncia en mi país como Presidente de la gran nación americana.\nMuy afectuosamente,\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n2002\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 22, 1973\nDear General Franco:\nYou have my most sincere thanks for the\nwarm good wishes expressed in your letter\nwhich was recently delivered to me by\nyour able Foreign Minister, Mr. Lopez\nBravo. It was, as always, a pleasure to\nmeet with your personal representative.\nI enjoyed my discussion with him and asked\nhim to convey to you, in return, my own\npersonal greeting.\nThe renewal of the Agreement of Friendship\nand Cooperation between our two countries\nwill, of course, be an issue which deserves\nour closest consideration over the next two\nyears. I fully agree that we should begin\npreliminary talks concerning the nature and\nform of our future relationship in ample\ntime prior to the expiration of the present\nAgreement.\nI was particularly pleased to note in your\nletter and in my talk with the Minister\nyour desire to have Spain assume appropriate\nresponsibilities regarding Western security.\nI share your views on this objective and\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n- 2 -\nassure you that my Administration will\ncontinue its policy of supporting closer\nSpanish cooperation in Western defense\narrangements.\nWith warm personal regards,\nSincerely,\nHis Excellency\n-\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nDispatched via S/S 5/22/73 (rb)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nBd\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nACTION\nSECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY\nDecember 30, 1970\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nALEXANDER M. HAIG @\nSUBJECT:\nMessage to President Franco\nAmbassador Hill called to report that he had gotten your message\nthrough to President Franco prior to the Spanish announcement\nof commutation of the six death sentences. Ambassador Hill\nwas unable to say for certain whether your message was a decisive\nfactor in President Franco's decision but he believes that it was,\nbased on the timing of events leading up to the announcement.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nIn view of the uncertainty as to whether your message was an\noperative factor, I recommend that we use the same telephone channel\nto convey to President Franco your great admiration for his states-\nmanship and demonstration of humanitarianism in this difficult\nsituation.\nApprove\nDisapprove\nHilcalled 9:15am 3,Due 70'\n@\nSECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\n35591\nSECRET\nINFORMATION\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFebruary IS 25, 1972\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\nMarshall Wright\nSUBJECT:\nGeneral Franco's Reply to the President on\nSpain's Law of the Sea Position\nThe memorandum from State at Tab A forwards an official trans-\nlation of General Franco's letter of November 18, 1971 to the President.\nThis letter, as you will recall, was delivered to the President by\nAmbassador Arguelles; it responded to the President's letter of\nOctober 19 which stressed the importance the United States attaches\nto its international straits/law of the sea position and requested\nSpain's support.\nIn his reply to the President, General Franco said that the US proposal\nfor freedom of transit through international straits would directly\naffect permanent Spanish interests, specifically with regard to the\narea of Gibraltar. The essence of Franco's response, while not\nexplicitly stated, is that Spain cannot agree to the US straits proposal.\nAs noted in State's covering memorandum, State and Defense recom-\nmend against further correspondence with Spain on this subject for the\ntime being. We concur. The agencies are currently developing an\nupdated statement on the US law of the sea position which will be for-\nwarded for White House review in the near future. There is no need\nfor any action on your part at this time.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n35541\n7119814\ndepartment OF state\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nSECRET\nFebruary 22, 1972\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. HENRY A. KISSINGER\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Letter from General Franco Concern-\ning the U.S. Law of the Sea Position\non Passage through Straits\nGeneral Franco's letter of November 18, 1971,\ndelivered personally by Spanish Ambassador Arguelles\nto President Nixon responds to the President's let-\nter of October 19, 1971, which emphasized the\nimportance the U.S. attached to our proposal for\nfree transit through and over international straits\nmade in connection with negotiations for the 1973\nLaw of the Sea Conference. General Franco points\nout that the U.S. free transit proposal would\ndirectly affect permanent Spanish interests, spe-\ncifically with regard to the Strait of Gibraltar.\nHe also notes that the Agreement of Friendship and\nCooperation between Spain and the U.S. provides an\nadequate arrangement for ensuring the maneuverability\nof our forces in the area. The Spanish claim to\nGibraltar is also cited. The Departments of State\nand Defense recommend that no reply be made at this\ntime. We will, however, be reviewing the Spanish\nposition in light of developments at the February/\nMarch meeting of the U.N. Seabed Committee.\nA copy of the original correspondence with an\nofficial translation is returned for your files.\nPruserg Executive Secretary\nTheodore L. Eliot, Jr.\nAttachments:\n1. Copy of General Franco's letter\n2. Translation\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n7303792\nTHE SECRETARY OF STATE\nNSC #1250\nWASHINGTON\nMarch 8, 1973\nSECRET\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nSubject: Spain: Lopez Bravo Visit\nI have invited Foreign Minister Lopez Bravo for\nan official visit April 10-11. Lopez Bravo has told\nAmbassador Rivero that he will be bringing a letter\nfrom General Franco which he hopes to present to you\npersonally. This letter reportedly focuses on the\nrole of Spain in western defense and possible diffi-\nculties in extending the bases agreement in 1975.\nFranco, who never leaves Spain, asks that you discuss\nthis matter with Lopez Bravo as his personal repre-\nsentative.\nLopez Bravo may be partially motivated by con-\nsiderations of enhancing his personal prestige through\na meeting with you. However, Ambassador Rivero is con-\nvinced that Franco, concerned with improving Spain's\nimage abroad, sees the proposed meeting as a means of\ndemonstrating that the highest levels of our government\nregard Spain to be among the more important European\ncountries.\nViewed in this light, a meeting with Lopez Bravo\nwould be consonant with our policy of promoting closer\nSpanish ties with Western Europe. You should also be\naware that Lopez Bravo, who is himself the best-known\nSpanish official after Franco and Prince Juan Carlos,\nis probably the most intelligent and forward-looking\ncandidate who may become Prime Minister at some time\nin the post-Franco period.\nSECRET\nGDS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n- 2 -\nLopez Bravo has indicated that he would advance\nhis visit or prolong his stay here if this would allow\nyou to receive him. I recommend that you receive him\nbriefly during the week of April 9.\nA biographic sketch of the Foreign Minister is\nattached.\nWilliam P. Rogers\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMarch 9, 1973\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nHenry:\nI gather that on the basis of\na conversation with you, Riviero\nhas already assured Lopez Bravo of\nthe virtual certainty of an\nappointment with the President.\nI don't know if this had your\nblessing or not, but if SO I assume\nyou or Brent will make sure that\nParker et al will deliver.\nSonnenfeldt ts.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\n1250\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nSECRET\nACTION\nMarch 9, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\n$ 15\nSUBJECT:\nSchedule Proposal: Lopez Bravo\nSecretary Rogers has sent the President a memorandum (Tab B)\nrecommending that he receive Spanish Foreign Minister Lopez Bravo,\nwhom the Secretary -- after persistent import uning from the\nForeign Minister -- invited to Washington for an offi cial visit\nApril 10-11.\nThe Secretary reports that Lopez Bravo will be bringing a letter\nfrom Franco to the President about western defense and the bases\nagreement, which is due for renewal two years from now.\nThe Secretary points to Franco's presumed desire to demonstrate that\nwe regard Spain as important and to the likelihood that Lopez Bravo will\nbe a -- perhaps the -- leading candidate for Prime Minister in the post-\nFranco period as reasons for the President to receive him.\nAs the Secretary concedes, Lopez Bravo's wish to be received is\npartially to promote himself politically. Nevertheless, I believe that\nyou should support the Secretary's recommendation that the President\nmeet with him briefly. Lopez Bravo has made an enormous effort to\nget the appointment. To rebuff him would damage his pride and might\nimpair relations with a man who could be important in post-Franco\nSpain.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you decide whether to send forward the Schedule Proposal at Tab A.\nSECRET\nGDS - December 31, 1981\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n1250\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSCHEDULE PROPOSAL\nSECRET\nDATE: March 30, 1973\nFROM: Henry A. Kissinger\nK\nVIA:\nDavid Parker\nMEETING:\nGregorio Lopez Bravo, Foreign Minister of Spain.\nDATE:\nAny time during the week of April 9. Preferred\ndates April 9 -11.\nPURPOSE:\nTo demonstrate that we regard Spain as an important\ncountry and our bases agreement there as valuable.\nFORMAT:\nOval Office, 15 minutes.\nPARTICIPANTS:\nForeign Minister Lopez Bravo, Henry A. Kissinger.\nPRESS COVERAGE: Photo opportunity. To be announced.\nSTAFF:\nHenry A. Kissinger\nRECOMMEND:\nSecretary Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger\nBACKGROUND:\nForeign Minister Lopez Bravo will be visiting\nWashington April 10-11 as an official guest of\nSecretary Rogers. (He is willing to adjust his\nschedule, however, so as to meet the President's\nconvenience any time during the week of April 9.)\nThe Foreign Minister wishes to present the President\nwith a personal letter from General Franco about\nSpain's role in western defense and problems relating\nto our bases there. He comes as Franco's special\nrepresentative.\nLopez Bravo is the best known Spaniard in public life\nafter Franco and Juan Carlos and a front-runner in a\n(as yet unannounced) race to be Prime Minister in the\npost-Franco period.\nApprove\nDisapprove\nSECRET\nGDS - December 31, 1981\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nH5\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nwit\nWASHINGTON\nAD\nMarch 18, 1970\nDear General Franco:\nThe visit of Foreign Minister Lopez Bravo\ngives me the welcome opportunity to convey to\nyou my warm personal greetings. As I told\nthe Minister, my Administration is deeply\nconvinced that the relations between our two\ncountries will develop in a spirit of genuine\nfriendship and partnership.\nOur representatives will soon begin talks of\ngreat importance to both our countries, and,\nindeed, to the security of the West as a whole.\nI look forward to a successful outcome of these\ntalks, based on the new realities of the decade\nof the Seventies. I welcome also the progress\nthat is being achieved in Spain's relations with\nits European neighbors.\nI look back with the warmest recollections to\nmy visit to your country in 1963 and it is my\nhope that during my term in office I may have\nanother opportunity to see its progress and its\nbeauty and to meet its people.\nWith warm personal regards,\nSincerely,\nRichard Hifon\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco\nChief of the Spanish State\nEl Pardo\nMadrid\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n7306321\n1922\ndepartment OF STATE\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nApril 6, 1973\nSECRET\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. HENRY A. KISSINGER\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Spain: Lopez Bravo Visit\nForeign Minister Lopez Bravo will be in\nWashington April 9-11 as the Secretary's guest.\nAs noted in the Secretary's Memorandum of March 8\nto the President, Lopez Bravo will bear a letter\nfrom General Franco which he hopes to deliver to\nthe President personally. This letter reportedly\nfocuses on the role of Spain in Western defense\nand possible difficulties in extending the\nAgreement of Friendship and Cooperation in 1975.\nWe believe that it would be in our interests\nif the President could receive Lopez Bravo. Since\nhe would be acting as General Franco's personal\nrepresentative, the meeting would provide us with\na unique opportunity to assess the position of the\nhighest level of the Spanish Government regarding\nthe extension of the Agreement. At the same time,\nthe President could outline the obstacles we will\nhave to overcome in this regard, some of which may\nbe every bit as serious as those faced by the Spanish\nGovernment.\nThe Department recommends that Walter Stoessel\nbe present should the President decide to see Lopez\nBravo. If the President sees Lopez Bravo alone, he\nmight misquote the President's words back to us\nSECRET\nGDS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n2.\nduring the base extension negotiations; he is\nfully capable of doing this.\nA biographic sketch and an issues and talking\npoints paper are attached.\nByniller ton\nTheodore L. Eliot, Jr.\nExecutive Secretary\nAttachments:\n1. Biographic sketch\n2. Issues and Talking Points Paper\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\nRECOMMENDED TALKING POINTS\n1. U.S. -Spanish Relations\nAfter welcoming the Minister who has announced he is coming with a\npersonal message from General Franco, you should:\n-- Express your pleasure that overall relations with Spain continue\nclose and friendly.\n-- Recall your direct personal relationship with and your admiration\nfor General Franco, who has continued to provide Spain with strong\nleadership.\n2. Spain and Western Defense\nThe letter from General Franco reportedly says that Spain wants to play\nits proper role in Western defense. The objective of the letter may be\nto open up the issue of our defense relationship with Spain now, well in\nadvance of the 1975 expiration of our 1970 Agreement of Friendship and\nCooperation.\nOn Spain's defense role, you may wish to:\n-- State our emphatic agreement that Spain's contribution to Western\ndefense should receive proper recognition in Western Europe as it has here\nin the United States for years.\n-- Note that our constant policy objective has been to bring Spain and\nNATO closer together.\n-- Recall that Secretaries Rogers and Laird reiterated this objective\nto our NATO allies during the most recent NATO Ministerial meeting.\n3. Our Agreement with Spain\nMinister Lopez Bravo may urge that we start talks soon to extend the 1970\nAgreement so as to avoid last-minute negotiating problems. If he does,\nyou can:\nAssure him that we stand ready to start preliminary talks this fall\nin Madrid if the Spanish wish.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n2\nPossibly the Minister will detail the problems Spain faces in extending\nthe agreement. His aim here will be to gain your acquiescence to the\nproposition that, in return for continued access to the bases, we should\ngrant Spain a political quid pro quo, perhaps a security guarantee in\naddition to the present military assistance program. An NSC study now\nunderway on US-Spanish relations will include an assessment of the\npolitical and strategic importance of our bases. This assessment will\nprovide you with a basis for judging what concessions the Spanish should\nget.\nIn replying to Lopez Bravo you should:\n-- Avoid specific references to the importance of our bases.\n-- Explain that we continue to have difficulties with the Congress every\nyear on funding military assistance, and these difficulties may well increase.\n-- Give the Minister your view on the complexities of relations with\nCongress and how they affect our ability to give a bilateral security\nguarantee.\n4. U.S. -Spanish Economic Relations\nPossibly the Minister will express apprehension about the possible effect\nof your trade bill on Spain. Also some Spanish interpret our objections to\ntheir preferential trade arrangements with the European Community as\nopposition to a tighter EC-Spanish relationship, the establishment of\nwhich has been a cardinal element in Lopez Bravo's policy. He may\ndiscuss the preference issue with Secretaries Rogers and Shultz. If it\ncomes up in conversation with you, you should:\n-- Assure him that the United States sees political advantages in\ncloser EC-Spain relations and wishes to cooperate with both in adjusting\nthe disadvantages for our economic interests that preferential trade\narrangements entail.\nSay that your trade legislation is designed to promote freer and more\nequitable trade.\n5. General Franco\nAs you know, the General's health seemed to be failing last fall. However,\nhe is still strong enough physically and alert enough mentally to retain\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n3\nfull control. Maneuvering for the succession has begun, though. In\nconcluding the visit you may wish to:\n-- Ask Lopez Bravo to convey your personal greeting to General\nFranco, and to assure him that you will carefully consider the points\nraised in his letter.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n2002\nWASHINGTON\nSECRET\nMEETING WITH GREGORIO LOPEZ BRAVO\nMinister of Foreign Affairs of Spain\nWednesday, April 11, 1973\n11:30 a. m. - Fiveer minutes\nThe Oval Office\nFrom: Henry A. Kissinger\nI.\nPURPOSE\nLopez Bravo (LOW-pehz BRAH-voh) is visiting Washington at\nSecretary Rogers' invitation an invitation sought by Lopez Bravo.\nHe is bringing you a personal letter from General Franco, which reportedly\ndeals with Spain's role in Western Defense.\nII. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS, PRESS PLAN\nA. Background: Since he became Foreign Minister in October 1969,\nLopez Bravo has revitalized his country's foreign policy, focussing\nit on closer relations with Western Europe, especially the European\nCommunity, and with the United States. He wants more economic\ncooperation with Europe and the US and also has launched an Eastern\npolicy of better, pragmatically-based relations with communist\ncountries.\nMinister Lopez Bravo is the best known Spanish political figure\nafter General Franco and Prince Juan Carlos. An ambitious but\nnon-ideological technocrat who is well trusted by Franco, he has a\ngood chance of becoming President of Government (Prime Minister)\nafter the General leaves the political scene.\nB. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Kissinger, Minister Lopez Bravo.\nC. PRESS PLAN: The meeting will be announced. There will be a\nphoto opportunity.\nIII. RECOMMENDED TALKING POINTS\nThey are to be found at Tab A.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\nRECOMMENDED TALKING POINTS\n1.\nU.S. -Spanish Relations\nAfter welcoming the Minister who has announced he is coming with a\npersonal message from General Franco, you should:\n-- Express your pleasure that overall relations with Spain continue\nclose and friendly.\n-- Recall your direct personal relationship with and your admiration\nfor General Franco, who has continued to provide Spain with strong\nleadership.\n2.\nSpain and Western Defense\nThe letter from General Franco reportedly says that Spain wants to\nplay its proper role in Western defense. The objective of the letter may\nbe to open up the issue of our defense relationship with Spain now, well in\nadvance of the 1975 expiration of our 1970 Agreement of Friendship and\ncooperation.\nOn Spain's defense role, you may wish to:\n-- State our emphatic agreement that Spain's contribution to Western\ndefense should receive proper recognition in Western Europe as it has\nhere in the United States for years.\n-- Note that our constant policy objective has been to bring Spain and\nNATO closer together.\n-- Recall that Secretaries Rogers and Laird reiterated this objective\nto our NATO allies during the most recent NATO Ministerial meeting.\n3. General Franco\nAs you know, the General's health seemed to be failing last fall.\nHowever, he is still strong enough physically and alert enough mentally\nto retain full control. Maneuvering for the succession has begun, though.\nIn concluding the visit you may wish to:\n-- Ask Lopez Bravo to convey your personal greeting to General\nFranco, and to assure him that you will carefully consider the points\nraised in his letter.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\nIssues and Talking Points\nIn the letter which Lopez Bravo is to deliver\nto you, General Franco reportedly states that Spain\nwants to play its proper role in Western defense.\nIf Lopez Bravo raises this topic, you may wish to\n--- state our emphatic agreement that Spain's\ncontribution to Western defense should\nreceive proper recognition in Western\nEurope as it has here in the United States\nfor years;\n-- note that our constant policy objective\nhas been to bring Spain and NATO closer\ntogether, and mention that Secretaries\nRogers and Laird reiterated this objective\nto our NATO allies during the most recent\nNATO Ministerial meeting.\nLopez Bravo will also use the letter from General\nFranco to urge that we begin talks to extend the\nAgreement of Friendship and Cooperation (1970) in\nthe near future, to avoid last-minute negotiating\nproblems. You may wish to\n-- note that we are prepared to begin pre-\nliminary talks this Fall in Madrid should\nthe Spanish so desire.\nLopez Bravo may go on to detail the problems\nthe GOS will face in granting us an extension of the\nAgreement. He may resurrect the Spanish desire to ob-\ntain a political quid pro quo in the form of a security\nguarantee, in addition to a MAP package, in return for\nour continued access to the bases. After hearing him\nout, you may wish to\n-- note that we have every expectation that\nour already serious annual military assis-\ntance funding problems with the Congress\nwill continue and, if anything, increase\nin severity in the next few years.\nAt this point it would be useful if you could\nconvey to Lopez Bravo your personal observations on\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSECRET\n2.\nthe complexities of our Congressional relations\nand how these problems affect our ability to give\na bilateral security guarantee.\nIn concluding your meeting, you might wish to\n-- ask that Lopez Bravo convey your personal\ngreeting to General Franco and assure him\nthat you will give careful thought and\nattention to the points raised in his let-\nter and expanded upon by the Foreign Minis- -\nter; and\n- note that you are pleased with the good\noverall relations existing between our\ntwo countries and expect them to continue\nto be close and friendly.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nWHITE HOUSE\n5.849\nATION ROOM\nE HOUSE LDX NR 464\n73 NOV: PM 6:22\nDIA/G\nE\nDIA/H\nDASA\nQ\nNPIC\nJUMBER OF PAGES 3\nDESCRIPTION/COMMENT:\nIs JEANE DAVIS\n973 NOV I PM 6 30\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nS/S\nEIVED\nMorro\nDATE/TIME:\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20506\nVIA LDX\nNovember 1, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nMr. Thomas R. Pickering\nExecutive Secretary\nDepartment of State\nSUBJECT:\nPresidential Letter to General Franco\nAttached for transmission to Embassy Madrid is a copy of the\nPresident's letter to General Franco in reply to the General's\nletter of October 13 setting forth Spain's views on the Middle\nEast situation. The original is being sent separately.\nJames. rs Barnum\nW. Davis\nStaff Secretary\nfn\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 1, 1973\nDear General Franco:\nYour message of October 13 setting forth\nSpain's views on the Middle Eastern situation\nis appreciated. I have noted with particular\ninterest your observations with regard to the\nroles that might be played by the United States\nand Spain.\nThere have been several significant developments\nduring the past few days. As the result of inten-\nsive efforts by the United States, together with\nthose of other countries, the United Nations Security\nCouncil has been able to adopt most important resolu-\ntions which provide a framework that could bring\npeace to the Middle East.\nThe United States fully supports the principles\nembodied in these resolutions, and we will devote\nour continuing efforts to assist in their effective\nimplementation. However, if these measures are\nto succeed, they will need the support of all interested\nparties. It is my hope that the Government of Spain\nwill also devote its earnest efforts to ensuring the\nsuccess of the resolutions.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nI value the opportunity afforded by this corres-\npondence to emphasize the importance I attach\nto a whole-hearted effort by all concerned to\nachieve a lasting peace in the Middle East.\nSincerely,\nRichard Nipon\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n5849\nWASHINGTON\nCONFIDENTIAL\nACTION\nNovember 1, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHENRY A. KISSINGER\nHX\nSUBJECT:\nReply to Franco on Middle East\nOn October 13, General Franco sent you the message at Tab B expressing\nhis deep concern over the risks involved in prolongation of the fighting in\nthe Middle East. He expresses the urgent belief that the United States\nmust convince the leaders of the warring countries to stop the fighting and\nenter into negotiations aimed at a settlement. He adds that Spain is pre-\npared to consider the use of its good offices in behalf of a prompt cessation\nof hostilities and a just and negotiated peace.\nSpain's deep concern over the adverse effects to be expected from a pro-\nlonged war is basically a reflection of the Spanish Government's strong\ndesire not to have its friendly ties with the Arabs disturbed or altered as\na result of the conflict. Since the start of the fighting, this has resulted\nin a very stiff Spanish position against the use of Spanish bases by U.S.\naircraft resupplying Israel, and in Spanish protests over the use of U.S.\ntankers flying from Spanish bases to refuel such aircraft.\nIn my opinion, the most useful role to be played by Spain is that of devoting\nits efforts to encouraging Arab compliance with the resolutions just adopted\nby the U.N. Security Council.\nThe letter for your signature to General Franco at Tab A would express\nyour appreciation for his message, emphasize the importance of the U.N.\nresolutions and express your hope that Spain will devote its earnest efforts\nto ensuring the success of the resolutions. Your letter has been\ncoordinated with Dave Gergen.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the letter to General Franco at Tab A.\nCONFIDENTIAL (GDS)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\n5849\nNATIONAL SECURITY council\nACTION\nCONFIDENTIAL\nOctober 31, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL SCOWCROFT\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt 001/pr\nSUBJECT:\nReply to Franco\nThe President's reply to General Franco has been updated and\nagain coordinated with Dave Gergen.\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat the reply be sent forward to the President\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nThe White House\nWASHINGTON\nOctober 30, 1973\nDenis\nWith regard to the reply at Tab A,\nGeneral Scowcroft believes that\nsince there has been another\nUN resolution passed since the\ndraft was prepared, it would be\ninappropriate to list just the\ntwo (thereby lperhaps signalling\nintentional oversight of the\n10/25 resolution). At this\npoint, he feels it would be best\nto take out the specific references\nto resolutions in para 2 and refer\nto them collectively as oriented\ntoward the theme you express in the\nlast sentence of that paragraph i.e\n\"a framework that could bring peace\nto the Middle East\" or words to tha\nthat effect.\nBud\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to bei declassified\nMEMORANDUM\nNATIONAL SECURITY council\n5849\nCONFIDENTIAL\nACTION\nOctober 25, 1973\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nSECRETARY KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt /f\nSUBJECT:\nPresidential Reply to Franco on Middle East\nOctober\nOn September 13, Franco sent the President a message of concern over\nthe fighting in the Middle East, urging action by the United States to bring\nan end to the fighting and offering, as Foreign Minister Rodo earlier\noffered to you, Spain's willingness to consider the use of its good offices\nin the Middle East.\nState has sent a rather cordial suggested reply (at Tab C) which bends\nover backwards to take into account the delicacy of the Spanish position.\nConsidering the difficulties the Spanish Government has been giving us\nsince the start of the U.S. resupply of Israel, I believe State's reply sets\nthe wrong tone. In my opinion, it would be best to focus on the U.N.\nSecurity Council resolutions and express the hope that Spain will devote\nits earnest efforts along with all interested parties to ensuring their\nsuccess.\nIf you agree, the memorandum for your signature to the President would\nforward a proposed reply along these lines for his signature to Franco,\ntogether with the incoming message. The President's reply has been\ncoordinated with Dave Gergen.\nHarold H. Saunders concurs.\nRECOMMENDATION:\nThat you sign the memorandum for the President at Tab I.\nCONFIDENTIAL (GDS)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nDIVISION OF LANGUAGE SERVICES\n(TRANSLATION)\nLS NO. 38177\nT-125/R-XX\nSpanish\nEmbassy of Spain\nText of the telegram from His Excellency the Chief of\nthe Spanish State to the President of the United States\nof America, dated October 13, 1973\nDear President Nixon:\nThe flood of news about the sufferings of millions of human beings\nin the Near East and the fear that the number may become even greater\nlead me to express to you my deep concern and my fervent desire that\nprolongation of the conflict can be prevented, because war generates\nwar, and that its expansion can also be prevented by all possible means,\ninasmuch as the risk of a holocaust for all mankind would be inherent\nin such expansion.\nI believe, Mr. President, that it is urgent for the Government of\nyour great nation, supported if necessary by the Governments of other\nfriendly nations, to convince the leaders of the warring countries that\ncontinuation of the conflict would SOW ineradicable hatred. Wars do\nnot solve problems, but only aggravate them and result in ruin for the\nvictors as well as the vanquished. That makes it necessary, in these\nmoments of anxiety, to spare no effort to arrive at bases for a nego-\ntiated settlement which can be accepted without placing either of the\nopposing sides in a desperate situation. Otherwise, the agitation of\npermanent and relentless terrorism would create a situation of latent\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n2\nwarfare that would perpetuate itself without finding solutions for the\ngrave tensions existing between Israel and the Arab peoples.\nI therefore wish to inform you, Mr. President, that Spain is\nprepared to consider with all rapidity the most effective manner of\nusing its good offices in behalf of a prompt cessation of hostilities and\na just and negotiated peace, in accordance with our unvarying policy of\nsupport for understanding among peoples, and in accordance also with our\nfirm position, put to the proof during two World Wars which did not\nsucceed in breaking our resolute determination to maintain peace.\nAccept, Mr. President and dear friend, the renewed assurance of my\nsincere esteem.\nFrancisco Franco\nChief of the Spanish State\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n7319338\nEmbajada de España\nTEXTO DEL MENSAJE TELEGRAFICO DE SU EXELENCIA\nEL JEFE DEL ESTADO ESPAÑOL AL HONORABLE PRESI\nDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE FECHA 13 DE\nOCTUBRE DE 1973.\n\"\nQuerido Presidente Nixon: el aluvion de noticias\nsobre los sufrimientos de millones de seres humanos en el\nProximo Oriente y el temor de que puedan extenderse a un\nnumero mayor todavia, me lleva a transmitirle mi profunda\npreocupacion y mi ferviente deseo tanto de que se pueda\nevitar la prolongacion del conflicto, pues la guerra llama\na la guerra, como de que por todos los medios se pueda tam_\nbien evitar la propagacion del mismo, ya que ello llevaria\nimplicito el riesgo de una hecatombe para toda la Humani_\ndad.\nEntiendo, señor Presidente, que es urgente que\nel gobierno de esa gran nacion americana, secundado si fue_\nra preciso por el de otras naciones amigas, lograra el con_\nvencimiento de los dirigentes de los paises en lucha sobre\nla siembra de odios inextinguibles que representaria la con_\ntinuacion de la contienda.Las guerras no resuelven los pro_\nblemas sino que los agravan y suponen la ruina tanto para\nlos vencedores como para los vencidos.Se hace por ello preciso,\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nEmbajada de España\nen estos momentos de zozobra que vivimos, no escatimar es_\nfuerzos para lograr unas bases de arreglo negociado que pue_\ndan ser aceptadas sin colocar a ninguno de los contendientes\nen trance de desesperacion.De otro modo los fermentos de un\nterrorismo permanente y sin cuartel crearian una situacion\nde guerra latente que se perpetuaria sin lograr soluciones\na las graves tensiones existentes entre Israel y los pueblos\narabes. Por ello deseo comunicarle, señor Presidente, que España\nesta dispuesta a considerar con toda rapidez la forma mas\neficaz de hacer valer sus buenos oficios en pro de un pronto cese\nde las hostilidades y de una paz justa y negociada de acuerdo\ncon nuestra constante politica en favor del entendimiento entre\nlos pueblos, y de acuerdo tambien con nuestra firme actitud\npuesta a prueba durante las dos guerras mundiales que no lo_\ngraron quebrantar nuestra decidida voluntad de mantener la paz.\nReciba, señor Presidente y querido amigo, el renovado\ntestimonio de mi sincero afecto.\nFRANCISCO FRANCO\nJefe del Estado español\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n5849\n7319338\ndepartment OF state\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nOctober 20, 1973\nCONFIDENTIAL\nMEMORANDUM FOR MAJOR GENERAL BRENT SCOWCROFT\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Franco Letter to the President\non the Middle East Conflict\nThe Spanish Embassy delivered a cabled message\nto the President from General Franco on October 13.\nThe message, a translation of which is attached,\ndeals with the Middle East conflict and offers\nSpain's good offices to help achieve an early cease-\nfire and a just and negotiated peace, A suggested\nreply prepared for the President's signature is\nattached.\nWhen the reply has been signed, the original\nwill be delivered to the Spanish Embassy in Washing-\nton for transmittal to General Franco. At the same\ntime a cable giving the texts of the incoming message\nand of the President's reply will be sent to American\nEmbassy Madrid.\nThomas R. Pickering\nExecutive Secretary\nAttachments:\n1. General Franco's cable of 10/13/73 with translation.\n2. Suggested reply.\n3. Draft cable with recommended reply.\n4. Cable with text of General Franco's message.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nGDS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nSUGGESTED REPLY\nDear General Franco:\nI received your message of October 13 regarding\nthe conflict in the Middle East and the readiness of\nyour government to help bring about an early cessation\nof hostilities and progress toward a just peace settle-\nment.\nThe United States shares your concern for the\nhuman suffering in the Middle East conflict and also\nhopes that the hostilities can be ended quickly, Un-\nfortunately, while we and other interested parties were\nengaged in an intensive diplomatic effort to secure a\nnegotiated settlement, the Soviet Union initiated a\nmassive transfer of arms and war material to Syria, Egypt\nand Iraq. The United States viewed this as a clear Soviet\neffort to determine unilaterally the outcome of the present\nsituation in the Middle East, an adventure which could not\nbe permitted to succeed. The consequences to the West,\nand particularly to those nations which, like Spain, are\ndirectly involved in the Mediterranean area, would be\ngrave indeed.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nOur efforts to resupply Israel are a necessary\nminimum attempt to maintain the kind of military balance\nin the area which is a prerequisite to a future stable\npolitical solution. We are convinced that if our efforts\nare successful, our ability to bring about a settlement\nwill be enhanced.\nI welcome your Excellency's willingness to add the\nefforts of your government to those already underway at\nthe United Nations and elsewhere, in encouraging restraint\nupon the parties to the conflict. Your voice might have\nparticular weight with those Arab states with which Spain\nenjoys such close relations.\nI fully appreciate the delicacy of your government's\nposition in this situation, and I hope that you in turn\nwill recognize the need of my government to maintain suf-\nficient flexibility of action so as to continue to play an\neffective role with the various parties to the conflict.\nIn conclusion, I wish to thank your Excellency for\nyour message and to express my wish that our two governments\ncontinue to stay in close touch as the Middle East situation\nevolves.\nSincerely,\nRichard Nixon\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde,\nChief of the Spanish State,\nMadrid.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nFORM DS 322{0CR}\nCONFIDENTIAL\nEUR/IB:HMCCOWN:BAS\n10/19/73 EXT. 22633\nEUR - WELLS STABLER\nEUR/IB - MR. RABENOLD\nMETF - MR. STACKHOUSE\nNEA - MR. DAVIES\nS/S -\nROUTINE\nMADRID\nWS ws\nE.O. 11652: GDS\nHM\nTAGS: PFOR, SP, XF\nSUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S REPLY TO FRANCO MESSAGE ON\nER\nMIDDLE EAST\nS\n1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT TO\nD\nGENERAL FRANCO, SIGNED ORIGINAL OF WHICH BEING DELIVERED\nTO AMBASSADOR SAGAZ:\n\"DEAR GENERAL FRANCO:\n\"I RECEIVED YOUR MESSAGE OF OCTOBER 13 REGARDING THE\nCONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE READINESS OF YOUR\nGOVERNMENT TO HELP BRING ABOUT AN EARLY CESSATION OF\nHOSTILITIES AND PROGRESS TOWARD A JUST PEACE SETTLEMENT.\n\"THE UNITED STATES SHARES YOUR CONCERN FOR THE HUMAN\nSUFFERING IN THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT AND ALSO HOPES\nTHAT THE HOSTILITIES CAN BE ENDED QUICKLY. UNFOR-\nTUNATELY, WHILE WE AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES WERE\nENGAGED IN AN INTENSIVE DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO SECURE\nA NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT, THE SOVIET UNION INITIATED A\nMASSIVE TRANSFER OF ARMS AND WAR MATERIAL TO SYRIA,\nEGYPT AND IRAQ. THE UNITED STATES VIEWED THIS AS A CLEAR\nSOVIET EFFORT TO DETERMINE UNILATERALLY THE OUTCOME OF\nTHE PRESENT SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AN ADVENTURE\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nFORM DS 322A{0CR}\nCONFIDENTIAL\n2\nWHICH COULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO SUCCEED. THE CONSE-\nQUENCES TO THE WEST, AND PARTICULARLY TO THOSE NATIONS\nWHICH, LIKE SPAIN, ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE MEDITER-\nRANEAN AREA, WOULD BE GRAVE INDEED.\n\"OUR EFFORTS TO RESUPPLY ISRAEL ARE A NECESSARY MINIMUM\nATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN THE KIND OF MILITARY BALANCE IN THE\nAREA WHICH IS A PREREQUISITE TO A FUTURE STABLE POLITICAL\nSOLUTION. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT IF OUR EFFORTS ARE\nSUCCESSFUL, OUR ABILITY TO BRING ABOUT A SETTLEMENT\nWILL BE ENHANCED.\n\"I WELCOME YOUR EXCELLENCY'S WILLINGNESS TO ADD THE\nEFFORTS OF YOUR GOVERNMENT TO THOSE ALREADY UNDERWAY,\nAT THE UNITED NATIONS AND ELSEWHERE, IN ENCOURAGING\nRESTRAINT UPON THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT. YOUR VOICE\nMIGHT HAVE PARTICULAR WEIGHT WITH THOSE ARAB STATES WITH\nWHICH SPAIN ENJOYS SUCH CLOSE RELATIONS.\n\"I FULLY APPRECIATE THE DELICACY OF YOUR GOVERNMENT'S\nPOSITION IN THIS SITUATION, AND I HOPE THAT YOU IN TURN\nWILL RECOGNIZE THE NEED OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN\nSUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY OF ACTION so AS TO CONTINUE TO\nPLAY AN EFFECTIVE ROLE WITH THE VARIOUS PARTIES TO THE\nCONFLICT.\n\"IN CONCLUSION, I WISH TO THANK YOUR EXCELLENCY FOR\nYOUR MESSAGE AND TO EXPRESS MY WISH THAT OUR TWO GOVERN-\nMENTS CONTINUE TO STAY IN CLOSE TOUCH AS THE MIDDLE EAST\nSITUATION EVOLVES.\nSINCERELY,\nRICHARD NIXON\"\n2. WHITE HOUSE DOES NOT PLAN RELEASE TEXT OF FRANCO\nMESSAGE OR OF PRESIDENT'S REPLY. REQUEST ADVISE IM-\nMEDIATELY IF SPANISH INTEND RELEASE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. YY\nCONFIDEJNTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nFORM DS 322{0CR}\nCONFIDENTIAL\nEUR/IB:HMCCOWN:BAS\n10/19/73 EXT. 22633\nEUR - WELLS STABLER\nEUR/IB - MR. RABENOLD\nS/S - MR. MILLER\nROUTINE\nMADRID\nwsws\nE.0. 11652: GDS\nTAGS: PFOR, SP, XF\nHM Hm\nSUBJECT: FRANCO MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT\nER are\n1. FOLLOWING IS TRANSLATION OF TELEGRAM TO PRESIDENT\nNIXON FROM GENERAL FRANCO, DELIVERED BY SPANISH EMBASSY\nOCTOBER 13:\n\"DEAR PRESIDENT NIXON:\n\"THE FLOOD OF NEWS ABOUT SUFFERINGS MILLIONS OF HUMAN\nBEINGS IN NEAR EAST AND FEAR THAT NUMBER MAY BECOME\nEVEN GREATER LEAD ME TO EXPRESS TO YOU DEEP CONCERN\nAND FERVENT DESIRE THAT PROLONGATION OF CONFLICT CAN\nBE PREVENTED, BECAUSE WAR GENERATES WAR, AND THAT ITS\nEXPANSION CAN ALSO BE PREVENTED BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS,\nINASMUCH AS RISK OF HOLOCAUST FOR ALL MANKIND WOULD BE\nINHERENT IN SUCH EXPANSION.\n\"I BELIEVE, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT IT URGENT FOR GOVERNMENT\nOF YOUR GREAT NATION, SUPPORTED IF NECESSARY BY GOVERN-\nMENTS OTHER FRIENDLY NATIONS, TO CONVINCE LEADERS OF\nWARRING COUNTRIES THAT CONTINUATION OF CONFLICT WOULD\nSOW INERADICABLE HATRED. WARS DO NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS,\nBUT ONLY AGGRAVATE THEM AND RESULT IN RUIN FOR VICTORS\nAS WELL AS VANQUISHED. THAT MAKES IT NECESSARY, IN THESE\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nFORM DS 322A{0CR}\nCONFIDENTIAL\n2\nMOMENTS OF ANXIETY, TO SPARE NO EFFORT TO ARRIVE AT BASES\nFOR NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WHICH CAN BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT\nPLACING EITHER OF OPPOSING SIDES IN DESPERATE SITUATION.\nOTHERWISE, AGITATION OF PERMANENT AND RELENTLESS TERROR-\nISM WOULD CREATE SITUATION OF LATENT WARFARE THAT WOULD\nPERPETUATE ITSELF WITHOUT FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR GRAVE\nTENSIONS EXISTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND ARAB PEOPLES.\n\"I THEREFORE WISH TO INFORM YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT\nSPAIN IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER WITH ALL RAPIDITY THE\nMOST EFFECTIVE MANNER OF USING ITS GOOD OFFICES IN BEHALF\nOF PROMPT CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AND A JUST AND NEGO-\nTIATED PEACE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR UNVARYING POLICY\nOF SUPPORT FOR UNDERSTANDING AMONG PEOPLES, AND IN\nACCORDANCE WITH OUR FIRM POSITION, PUT TO THE PROOF DURING\nTWO WORLD WARS WHICH DID NOT SUCCEED IN BREAKING OUR\nRESOLUTE DETERMINATION TO MAINTAIN PEACE.\n\"ACCEPT, MR. PRESIDENT AND DEAR FRIEND, THE RENEWED\nASSURANCE OF MY SINCERE ESTEEM.\nFRANCISCO FRANCO\nCHIEF OF THE SPANISH STATE\"\n2. PRESIDENT'S WRITTEN REPLY WILL BE DELIVERED TO\nAMBASSADOR SAGAZ. WE WILL CABLE TEXT FYI WHEN IT\nRECEIVES FINAL CLEARANCE. YY\nCONFIDENTIAL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE\nDOC\nRECD\nLOG NBR\nACTION O\nMO\nDA\n10\n20\n10\nMO 2211 DA HR\n5849\nLOG IN/OUT ONLY\nTO: PRES\nFROM: ROGERS\nUNCLAS\nNO FORN\nNODIS\nSOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION\nkissinger\nRICHARDSON\nLOU\nEYES ONLY\nEXDIS\nSCOWCROFT x\nX\nSCHLESINGER\nC\nCODEWORD\nX\nELIOT\nS\nPickering\nsensitive\nTS\nSUBJECT:\nEast was\nSTate new is LTR from Ceneral Leneo on Maddle\nreference: S/S 7319338\nOTHER\nNOT XEROXED\nINTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION\nACTION required\nACTION\nREC\nINFO\nCY\nMEMO FOR HAK\n(\n)\nADVANCE CYS TO HAK/SCOWCROFT\nfor\nMEMO FOR PRES.\n(\nx\n)\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nREPLY FOR\n(\n)\nFAR EAST\nAPPROPRIATE ACTION\n(\n)\nDISTRIBUTION/INITIAL ACTION ASGMT\nSUB.SAHARAN AFRICA\nMEMO\nTO\nMID EAST / NO. AFRICA / so. ASIA\nX\n(JT)\n(\n)\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n(\n)\nEUROPE / CANADA\nx x Pine\nJOINT MEMO\n(\n)\nLATIN AMERICA\nREFER TO\nFOR:\n(\n)\nUNITED NATIONS\nANY ACTION NECESSARY?\n(\n)\nECONOMIC\nCONCURRENCE\n(\n)\nSCIENTIFIC\nNET assessment GROUP\nDUE DATE: 10/24\nCOMMENTS: (INCLUDING SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS)\nprogram ANALYSIS\nNSC planning\nCONGRESSIONAL\nOCEANS POLICY\nWoods, R\nX\nIF NO ACTION, RETURN W/PROFILE FOR FILES. IF CONVENIENCE CY NEEDED, PLEASE INDICATE:\nDATE\nFROM\nTO\nS\nCY TO\n10/25\nTAK\nX\nPres to SUBSEQUENT sgn ter ACTION REQUIRED to Ganco (OR TAKEN): (10/29)\nSUBSEQUENT ROUTING/ACTIONS\n10/31\nMcFalas\nSonn\nS\nthe the action (11/02)\n10/31\ns'croft\n+\n11/1\nPusto 5 Su th to Franco (11/03)\nHAK\nX\nPres to Sqn Itn to Franco\n(11/2)\n11/1\nC\nPres 59d Itr to Franco\nDISPATCH\nNOTIFY\n& DATE\nMICROFILM & FILE RQMTS:\nspecial DISPOSITION)\nM/F'D\nBY\nOR RECORD COMMENT:)\nNSC / S DISP INSTR\nCY RQMTS: SEE ABOVE PLUS:\nCYS FOR )\nSA\n)\nHP\nORIG\n)\nWH\nCROSS REF W/\nJOINED BY LOG #\nTO\n)\nPA\nX\n)\nSF\nSEE #\nFOR FINAL ACTION & FILING.\n)\nNS\nSUSPENSE CY ATTACHED: see Barnum\n)\nEP\nDESTROY)\nDY\n* GPO: 1973-489-668\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n816\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nS/S 11330\nJuly 23, 1969\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. HENRY A. KISSINGER\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSubject: Letter to the President from\nGeneral Francisco Franco\nThe enclosed signed original letter to the\nPresident, text of which was delivered on February\n20 and forwarded to you on the same date (S/S 2265),\nwas misplaced by the Spanish Foreign Office. When\nit was found, it was informally delivered to a\nDepartment officer by the Spanish Embassy. Mr.\nMoose approved our recommendation of no reply on\nMarch 6.\nJohn P. Walsh\nActing Executive Secretary\nEnclosures:\nLetter to the President from\nGeneral Francisco Franco and\nOfficial Translation\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n500\nil Jefe del Estado\nGeneralisimo de los Ejércitos Nacionales\nMadrid, 20 de Febrero de 1969\nQuerido Presidente:\nMucho agradezco su amable mensaje personal\ndel pasado dia 13. Yo tambien guardo un muy grato re-\ncuerdo de nuestro encuentro en Barcelona.\nVeo en este viaje suyo a Europa un especial\ninteres por nuestro viejo Continente, en consonancia\ncon el papel fundamental que para el bienestar y la se-\nguridad mundial corresponde a las naciones europeas,\ncuya tradicion y personalidad propias son un factor po-\nsitivo para la custodia de los valores comunes de Oc-\ncidente y para la consolidación de la paz en el mundo.\nDedico como Vd. especial atencion al desa-\nrrollo de las relaciones de todo orden entre nuestros\ndos paises y confío en que siga manteniendose entre no-\nsotros un estrecho contacto personal,\nHay Le saluda muy amistosamente,\nA Su Excelencia Richard M. Nixon\nPresidente de los Estados Unidos de America\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nDIVISION OF LANGUAGE SERVICES\n(TRANSLATION)\nLS NO. 11099\nT-39/R-XX\nSpanish\nThe Chief of State\nGeneralissimo of the National Armies\nMadrid, February 20, 1969\nDear Mr. President:\nI greatly appreciate your kind personal message of February 13. I,\ntoo, have a very pleasant memory of our meeting in Barcelona.\nI see in this trip of yours to Europe a special interest in our old\nContinent, in harmony with the fundamental role in promoting the well-\nbeing and security of the world that falls to the nations of Europe,\nwhose peculiar tradition and individuality are a positive factor in safe-\nguarding the values held in common by the West and in the strengthening\nof peace in the world.\nLike you, I am devoting special attention to the development of\nrelations in all fields between our two countries and I trust that close\npersonal contact between us will continue to be maintained.\nMost cordially yours,\n[Signed] F. Franco\nHis Excellency\nRichard M. Nixon\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nLDX CHANNEL MESSAGE COVER FORM\nby:\n2. TO:\nlett\n(Msg. No.)\n733\nsmitted by:\npara STATE\n4. Received by: Bowker\n& Time:\n31\nDate & Time: 17/1335\niption: Draft 1tr to Gen M Franco $ from the President\n1 & Controls: CONFIDENTIAL\nof Pge.\n2\nIMMEDIATE\n8. Precedence\n9. Validated by: JPW\nrer to: Dr, Henry Kissinger\nFort Clearance\nX\nThe White House\nInformation\nPer Request\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nJune 17, 1969\nCONFIDENTIAL -Memo'to Henry Kissinger from UAJohnson\nSubject: Letter from the President to General Franco\nWe have now successfully concluded the long and difficult\nnegotiations with Spain for a two-year extension of our\ndefense agreement of 1953, and Foreign Minister Castiella will\nsign the necessary papers with Secretary Rogers this Friday\n40\nafternoon. As I informed you, the Spaniards were very pleased\nby the President's oral message that I transmitted to them on\nJune 8 and have asked whether it would be possible for it to\nbe put into writing. I have made no commitment, but I do feel\nthat such a letter from the President to General Franco would\nbe entirely appropriate and would somewhat soothewhatever\nbruised feelings may still exist on the Spanish side, not\nonly from the negotiations themselves but also from what\nœrtain members of the Congress have said publicly with regard\nto Spain and the agreement.\nI am therefore enclosing a proposed draft letter for the\nPresident's consideration. If the President approves this\nletter, I would propose that it be given to the Foreign Minister\nby Secretary Rogers at the time of the signing of the agreement\nand that the Foreign Minister be informed that the President\nwould have no objection to the public release of the letter\nif General Franco so desires, with, of caurse, prior notification\nto us.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nSuggested Letter\nDear General Franco:\nI wish to tell you how pleased I am that our\ntwo Governments have reached a mutually satisfactory\nunderstanding on extending the Defense Agreement of\n1953.\nAs I told Foreign Minister Castiella in March,\nit is my firm desire to ensure the maintenance of\nfriendly relations between our two countries. I be-\nlieve that the understanding which has been reached\nprovides a good basis for further discussions. I\nwant to assure you that I shall closely follow those\ndiscussions. I hope that they will result in even\nbetter relations between our two countries.\nSincerely,\nRichard Nixon\nHis Excellency\nFrancisco Franco Bahamonde,\nChief of the Spanish State,\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDISTRIBUTION\nDr. Kissinger\nHaig/Eagleburger\nMcManis/Fazio *\nIt\nNSC\nMoose/Davis\n1\nAllen\nBergsten\nChapin\nHalperin\nHoudek\nKeeny\nLemnitzer\nLynn\nMoor\nMorris\nSaunders\nSneider\nORD Sonnenfeldt Vaky 4\nGen Taylor\nOther\nFile\nDestroy\n* Copy of Everything\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nJune 17, 1969\nCONFIDENTIAL -Memo to Henry Kissinger from UAJohnson\nSubject: Letter from the President to General Franco\nWe have now successfully concluded the long and difficult\nnegotiations with Spain for a two-year extension of our\ndefense agreement of 1953, and Foreign Minister Castiella wi\nsign the necessary papers with Secretary Rogers this Friday\n40\nafternoon, As I informed you, the Spaniards were very pleased\nby the President's oral message that I transmitted to them on\nJune 8 and have asked whether it would be possible for it to\nbe put into writing. I have made no commitment, but I do feel\nthat such a letter from the President to General Franco would\nbe entirely appropriate and would somewhat soothewhatever\nbruised feelings may still exist on the Spanish side, not\nonly from the negotiations themselves but also from what\nœrtain members of the Congress have said publicly with regard\nto Spain and the agreement.\nI am therefore enclosing a proposed draft letter for the\nPresident's consideration. If the President approves this\nletter, I would propose that it be given to the Foreign Minister\nby Secretary Rogers at the time of the signing of the agreement\nand that the Foreign Minister be informed that the President\nwould have no objection to the public release of the letter\nif General Franco so desires, with, of cQurse, prior notification\nto us.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nSuggested Letter\nDear General Franco:\nI wish to tell you how pleased I am that our\ntwo Governments have reached a mutually satisfactory\nunderstanding on extending the Defense Agreement of\n1953.\nAs I told Foreign Minister Castiella in March,\nit is my firm desire to ensure the maintenance of\nfriendly relations between our two countries. I be-\nlieve that the understanding which has been reached\nprovides a good basis for further discussions. I\nwant to assure you that I shall closely follow those\ndiscussions. I hope that they will result in even\nbetter relations between our two countries.\nSincerely,\nRichard Nixon\nHis Excellency\nFrancisco Franco Bahamonde,\nChief of the Spanish State.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT OF\nSTATE *\nDepartment of State\nOF STATES NAME AMERICA UNITED\nTELEGRAM\nSECRET 888\nPAGE 01 STATE 098415\nSUMMARY\n81\nORIGIN SS 70\nINFO OCT øl,sso 00,CIAE ØØ, NSCE 00,USIE 00//07] R\n66639\nDRAFTED BY:EUR/SPP-JLSMITH\nAPPROVED BY:J MR. GETZ\nEUR - MR. SPRINGSTEEN\nEUR/SPP MR. GEBELT (DRAFT)\nS/S CA MR. HORNBLOW\n099452\n0 162350Z JUN 69 ZFF4\nFM SECSTATE WASHDC\nTO AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE\nINFO USCINCEUR\nSECRE T STATE 098415\nLIMDIS\nUSCINCEUR FOR POLAD\nSUBJECT: SPANISH BASE NEGOTIATIONS\nREF: MADRID 2374, 2384\ni. IN RESPONSE TO GOS REQUEST, THE SECRETARY HAS AGREED TO\nRECEIVE FOREIGN MINISTER CASTIELLA AT 4:00 P.M. ONI JUNE 20 TO\nEXCHANGE THE DOCUMENTS EXTENDING THE 1953 DEFENSE AGREEMENT FOR\nTWO YEARS.\n2. IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE IN THE ... EXCHANGE ANY\nADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS (SUCH AS THE QTE CULTURAL UNQTE LETTER\nMENTIONED BY AGUIRRE SINCE THE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO\n-\nSENATOR FULBRIGHT AND THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE AS\nREPRESENTING THE ENTIRE PACKAGE ON THE BASE agreement EXTENSION.\n3. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S REQUEST) THE\nSECRETARY HAS AGREED TO RECEIVE THE INITIAL PRESENTATION OF\nGOS PROPOSALS ON THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIP.\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDIPARTMENT DEP OF STATE\nDepartment of State\nTELEGRAM\nUNITED STATES OF\nSECRET\nPAGE 02 STATE 098415\n4. AS requested, NO LUNCHEON OR OTHER SOCIAL FUNCTIONS WILL BE\nARRANGED.\n5. AGUIRRE TIME JUNE 16. UNDER secretary GAVE AGUIRRE THE EXCHANGE ABOVE\ntelephoned UNDER S SECRETARY JOHNSON 6:00 P.M.\nWASHINGTON AGUIRRE DID NOT PRESS FOR CULTURAL LETTER RESERVED\nINFORMATION. UNDER SECRETARY INDICATED THIS subject SHOULD STATEMENT BE\nWHEN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS. THEY AGREED TEXT OF PRESS TEAM.\nFOR WOULD BE WORKED OUT ON JUNE 19 AFTER ARRIVAL SPANISHI\nROGERS\nSECRET\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nCOMMON YTIRUCTY .........................\nSlse time\n1900 her\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nNSC 24832\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nThe Western White House\nSan Clemente\nJanuary 7, 1971\nDear General Franco:\nIt is with pleasure that I extend my personal greetings\nto you through Secretary Stans. I am delighted that you\nhave given him this opportunity to meet with you.\nSecretary Stans' visit to Spain and his discussions with\nyou and members of the Government of Spain serve to\ndemonstrate again the great value we place on strength-\nening the solid ties of friendship between our countries.\nHis discussions and the continued expansion of mutual\ntrade and investment will be to the benefit of both our\nnations.\nSincerely,\nRichard this\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nCC: Mr. Sonnenfeldt\nDept. of State\nDept. of Commerce\nSealed letter picked up from EOB 385 on Jan 8 by McSpadden of Commerce\nDepartment.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n24832\nThe Western White House\nSan Clemente\nJanuary 7, 1971\nDear General Franco:\nIt is with pleasure that I extend my personal greetings\nto you through Secretary Stans. I am delighted that you\nhave given him this opportunity to meet with you.\nSecretary Stans' visit to Spain and his discussions with\nyou and members of the Government of Spain serve to\ndemonstrate again the great value we place on strength-\nening the solid ties of friendship between our countries.\nHis discussions and the continued expansion of mutual\ntrade and investment will be to the benefit of both our\nnations.\nSincerely,\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nRN:HAK:HS:1ds:1/6/71\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\n24832\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nURGENT ACTION\nJanuary 6, 1971\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt\nIt\nSUBJECT:\nLetter for General Franco\nSecretary Stans is scheduled to be in Spain January 11-13, and he will\nmeet during that time with General Franco. Assistant Secretary of\nCommerce McLellan has written to you (Tab B) noting that Secretary\nStans would welcome the opportunity to carry a personal letter of\ngreeting from the President to General Franco. He will be leaving\non Friday, January 8 to meet the Secretary in Europe; and SO will\nhave to have the President's letter by that day at the latest.\nAt Tab A is a memorandum for the President formally requesting (for\nthe record) that he sign such a letter, the text of which has been approved\nby Pat Buchanan (in Ray Price's absence).\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat you sign the memorandum at Tab A for the President, or have\nother action taken to ensure that the President's signed letter is con-\nveyed to Assistant Secretary McLellan by Friday.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n-\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\n24832\nWASHINGTON\nACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nHenry A. Kissinger\nSUBJECT:\nLetter to General Franco\nSecretary Stans is scheduled to visit Spain January 11-13, and he will be\nmeeting with General Franco. He would welcome the opportunity to\ncarry a personal letter of greeting from you to Franco. A non-sub-\nstantive letter of greeting is at Tab A, the text of which has been cleared\nby Pat Buchanan. If you agree to sign the letter, it must be in the hands\nof Assistant Secretary McLellan by Friday, January 8 so that he could\ncarry it with him that day when he meets Secretary Stans in Europe.\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat you sign the letter to General Franco at Tab A.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSan Clemate\nJanuary 1971\nDear General Franco:\nIt is with pleasure that I extend my personal greetings\nto you through Secretary Stans. I am delighted that you\nhave given him this opportunity to meet with you.\nSecretary Stans' visit to Spain and his discussions with\nyou and members of the Government of Spain serve to\ndemonstrate again the great value we place on strength-\nening the solid ties of friendship between our countries.\nHis discussions and the continued expansion of mutual\ntrade and investment will be to the benefit of both our\nnations.\nSincerely,\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\n24832\nTHE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE\nWashington, D.C. 20230\nUNITED STATES or AMERICA\nJanuary 4, 1971\nHonorable Henry A. Kissinger\nAssistant to the President\nfor National Security Affairs\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nDear Dr. Kissinger:\nYou will recall, Secretary Stans will be meeting with leaders of\nthe Spanish government January 11-13. The Government of\nSpain has indicated they would like Secretary Stans to meet with\nGeneralissimo Franco during this visit.\nAs has been the custom in the Secretary's previous meetings with\nother heads of state, he would welcome the opportunity to present\na personal letter of greetings from President Nixon to\nGen. Franco. A draft letter for consideration is enclosed.\nIf the President signs such a letter, I would appreciate it very\nmuch if it could be returned to me by Friday, January 8. I will\nbe leaving at the close of business on that day to meet the\nSecretary in Europe, and will hand carry it to him for his\ndelivery to Gen. Franco.\nYour assistance is appreciated.\nSincerely yours,\nki bellam\nRobert McLellan\nAssistant Secretary for Domestic\nand International Business\nEnclosure\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDRAFT:\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid, Spain\nYour Excellency:\nIt is with great pleasure that I' extend my personal greetings\nthrough my good friend and colleague, the Honorable Maurice H. Stans,\nSecretary of Commerce of the United States of America.\nI am delighted that Secretary Stans has the opportunity to meet\nwith you and other officials of the Government of Spain to discuss\nmatters of common interest. These talks will continue the beneficial\nexchange of views which you have shared with me and other members\nof my Administration.\nI hope sincerely that Secretary Stans' visit also will emphasize\nthe great value which we attribute to the friendship of the people of\nSpain, and the importance which I place on strengthening the ties\nbetween our two countries.\nThe continued expansion of trade and investment between Spain\nand the United States will be to the great benefit of both our countries,\nand we look forward to working with Spain in mutual commitment to\nthe best interests and highest aspirations of our people.\nWith my cordial personal regards,\nRichard Nixon\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDOC\nRECD\nLOG NBR\nINITIAL ACTION OFF\nMO\nDA\nMO DA HR\n0104010511\n24832\nSONNENFELDT\nNSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE\nTO: PRES\nFROM: ELIOT\nU\nNO FORN\nNODIS\nKISSINGER X\nROGERS, W\nLOU\nBUO\nEXDIS\nDOC SOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIP\nHAIG\nLAIRD, M\nC\nEYES ONLY\nLIMDIS\nMcLellan, R,\nS\nCODE WORD\nRES DATA\nTS\nSENSITIVE\nSUBJECT:\nto to Franco\nPresidential Lh for\nREFERENCE: S/S\nOTHER\nNOT XEROXED\nAPP'TS:\nPRES\nHAK\nTALKER\nMEMCON\nDATE REQ.\nINTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION\nREC\nACTION REQUIRED\nACTION\nINFO\nCY\nMEMO FOR HAK\n(\nX\n)\nADVANCE CYS TO HAK/HAIG\nFOR\nmemo FOR PRES\n(\n)\nSTAFF SECRETARY\nREPLY FOR\nSIGNATURE\n.\n)\nSECRETARIAT DISTRIBUTION/ACTION\nFAR EAST\nFOR DISTRIBUTION/DISPATCH\n(\n)\nSUB-SAHAraN AFRICA\nMEMO\nTO\n(\n)\nNR EAST/NORTH AFRICA\nRECOMMENDATIONS\n(\n)\nEUROPE/CANADA\nX\nJOINT memo\n)\nLATIN AMERICA\nREFER TO STATE\nUNITED NATIONS\nANY ACTION NECESSARY\n(\n)\nECONOMIC\nCONCURRENCE\nSCIENTIFIC\ndue DATE:\n6 Fan\nLR PLANNING\nCOMMENTS: (Including Special Instructions)\nPROGRAM ANALYSIS\nNSC PLANNING\nCONGRESSIONAL\nP.S. Met Price O.K!\nState\nDATE\nFROM\nTO\nS\nACTION REQUIRED\nCY TO\n1/5\nHS\nAD\nEXTREMELY URGENT\nINTERNAL/INTERIM ROUTING\n$106\nSONN\nHA16\nx\napprove signature\n01/08\nHaig\nNSC/S\n01/08\nPres signed\nCommerce courries picked up letter to give to\nstam.\nMICROFILM DATA\nCROSS REF WITH\nRJ\nNOTIFY\nDATE\nINT\nINIT\nSEE LOG\nDATE\nDISPATCH: LETTER/MEMO\nJOINED BY LOG\n11\nJAN\n1971\nCOPIES: (AS MARKED ABOVE) Commerce, state, Sonn,\nLOG IN AND\nOGRIG) NSC\nDISPOSITION\nMICROFILM:\nDATE\nINITIALS\nTO ) PAF\nWHC\nFILES: NSC\nPAF\nSUBJ\nSA\nHA\nSUBF\nHM\nNS3 REQ'D\nSUSPENSE CY ATTACHED: YES X NO\nGPO: 1970-385-803\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\n1/9\nEd - Ed -\nyou man not want\nthis - the letter\nwas dispatched\nthru NSC/S last\nnight.\nJ\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon\nPresidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to\nExecutive Order 13526 and has\nbeen determined to be declassified.\nTHE WHITE House\nWASHINGTON\nJanuary 7, 1971\nHAK:\nYou may want to act for the\nPresident on this. If the letter\nis to be delivered I can arrange\nto have it resigned in Washington\nin time for Assistant Secretary\nMcLellan to carry it with him\non Friday, January 8.\nCol. Kennedy\nSent to Pres\n1/8/71\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThis document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526\nand has been determined to be declassified.\nHAK\nMEMORANDUM\n24832\nCC RTK\nNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL\nURGENT ACTION\nMEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER\nFROM:\nHelmut Sonnenfeldt H\nJanuary Present 6, 1971 by\nSUBJECT:\nLetter for General Franco\nSecretary Stans is scheduled to be in Spain January 11-13, and he will\nmeet during that time with General Franco. Assistant Secretary of\nCommerce McLellan has written to you (Tab B) noting that Secretary\nStans would welcome the opportunity to carry a personal letter of\ngreeting from the President to General Franco. He will be leaving\non Friday, January 8 to meet the Secretary in Europe, and SO will\nhave to have the President's letter by that day at the latest.\nAt Tab A is a memorandum for the President formally requesting (for\nthe record) that he sign such a letter, the text of which has been approved\nby Pat Buchanan (in Ray Price's absence).\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat you sign the memorandum at Tab A for the President, or have\nother action taken to ensure that the President's signed letter is con-\nveyed to Assistant Secretary McLellan by Friday.\nOK\nHK\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nHAK\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nSEAL\nNERCE\nTHE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE\nWashington, D.C. 20230\nSHITED STATES OF AMERICA\nJanuary 4, 1971\nHonorable Henry A. Kissinger\nAssistant to the President\nfor National Security Affairs\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nDear Dr. Kissinger:\nYou will recall, Secretary Stans will be meeting with-leaders of\nthe Spanish government January 11-13. The Government of\nSpain has indicated they would like Secretary Stans to meet with\nGeneralissimo Franco during this visit.\nAs has been the custom in the Secretary's previous meetings with\nother heads of state, he would welcome the opportunity to present\na personal letter of greetings from President Nixon to\nGen. Franco. A draft letter for consideration is enclosed.\nIf the President signs such a letter, I would appreciate it very\nmuch if it could be returned to me by Friday, January 8. I will\nbe leaving at the close of business on that day to meet the\nSecretary in Europe, and will hand carry it to him for his\ndelivery to Gen. Franco.\nYour assistance is appreciated.\nSincerely yours,\nki.\nRobert McLellan\nAssistant Secretary for Domestic\nand International Business\nEnclosure\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified.\nDRAFT:\nHis Excellency\nGeneral Francisco Franco Bahamonde\nChief of the Spanish State\nMadrid, Spain\nYour Excellency:\nIt is with great pleasure that I extend my personal greetings\nthrough my good friend and colleague, the Honorable Maurice H. Stans,\nSecretary of Commerce of the United States of America.\nI am delighted that Secretary Stans has the opportunity to meet\nwith you and other officials of the Government of Spain to discuss\nmatters of common interest. These talks will continue the beneficial\nexchange of views which you have shared with me and other members\nof my Administration.\nI hope sincerely that Secretary Stans' visit also will emphasize\nthe great value which we attribute to the friendship of the people of\nSpain, and the importance which I place on strengthening the ties\nbetween our two countries.\nThe continued expansion of trade and investment between Spain\nand the United States will be to the great benefit of both our countries,\nand we look forward to working with Spain in mutual commitment to\nthe best interests and highest aspirations of our people.\nWith my cordial personal regards,\nRichard Nixon\n5\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDECLASSIFIED This document has been reviewed pursuant to Executive Order 13526 and has been determined to be declassified."
}