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This file contains:
From unknown, to unknown RE: RN and Israel. 1 pg. [Memo], 12/13/1968
Copy of a memo from Robert W. Moore to William P. Bundy RE: "Australian Defense Plans and Gorton Visit Possibility." 2 pgs. [Memo], 12/13/1968
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WHSF: Returned, 1-29
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26125860
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WHSF: Returned, 1-29
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This file contains:
From unknown, to unknown RE: RN and Israel. 1 pg. [Memo], 12/13/1968
Copy of a memo from Robert W. Moore to William P. Bundy RE: "Australian Defense Plans and Gorton Visit Possibility." 2 pgs. [Memo], 12/13/1968
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Returned White House Special Files
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
White House Special Files Collection
Folder List
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
1
29
12/13/1968
Memo
From unknown, to unknown RE: RN and
Israel. 1 pg.
1
29
12/13/1968
Memo
Copy of a memo from Robert W. Moore to
William P. Bundy RE: "Australian Defense
Plans and Gorton Visit Possibility." 2 pgs.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Page 1 of 1
SECRET/NEDIS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
Participants:
Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan
Israeli Ambassador Y. Rabin
The President-Elect
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
Date:
December 13, 1968; 9:45 a.m.
Place:
Hotel Pierre, New York, New York
The President-Elect opened the conversation by telling Minister Dayan how
much he enjoyed his visit to Israel and how much he appreciated the fact
that Minister Dayan had seen him on what had obviously been a very busy
day. He added that he was not receiving foreign visitors at this time,
but that he had always been interested in the State of Israel. Dayan
replied that the problems of the Middle East were very complex and that
he was grateful for the President-Elect's interest in them.
Dayan added that the reports of Israel's displeasure with the Scranton visit
were incorrect. The Israeli officials felt that Mr. Scranton had left with
a better appreciation of the complexities of the issues. The President-Elect
asked whether there were any Arab countries which might prove more ready to
make peace than others. Dayan replied that Arab countries were not very
promising but that Ethiopia might perform a useful role. Of the Arab
countries, he thought Jordan might be most ready to settle but he indicated
no great enthusiasm for this prospect.
The President-Elect asked about guerrilla activity. Dayan replied that it
was over-rated; for example, Time Magazine had given a figure of 10,000
guerrillas, where in fact, there were only 3,000. The President-Elect told
the Israeli Ambassador that we would be glad to receive an estimate as to
the correct figures.
Declassified/Released on
8-15-94
under provisions of E.O. 12356
By J. Saunders, National Security Council
CONFIDENTIAL
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, D.C. 20520
December 13, 1968
MEMORANDUM
TO:
EA - Mr. William P. Bundy
THROUGH: EA - Ambassador Winthrop G. Brown
FROM:
EA/ANZ - Robert W. Moore
SUBJECT: Australian Defensé Plans and Gorton Visit Possibility
-- INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
1. At a press conference December 11, Australian Prime
Minister John Gorton shed some light on GOA thinking with
respect to the future defense of Malaysia/Singapore, as well
as on his own wish for an early meeting with President Nixon.
2. Gorton denied previous press reports that the Cabinet
had postponed making any decisions on the Malaysia/Singapore
question until after the Viet-Nam peace talks and was going
to "put things off until 1970. 11 He said the GOA had officially
reassured the Governments of Malaysia and Singapore that this
was not the case. On the contrary, the Cabinet had made
"quite significant decisions" on what the post-1971 approach
was to be. These decisions, already conveyed to the defense
authorities, would suffice to enable them to make recommendations
on equipment to implement the post-1971 policy.
3. The policy decisions would be announced to Parliament
when it reconvenes February 25. It would not be necessary,
Gorton said, to hold up the announcement until he had talked
to the new American President. Reporters at the conference
gained a strong impression Gorton was implying a continuing
Australian military presence in Malaysia/Singapore after 1971.
4. On the question of a meeting with President Nixon, the
Evening Star on December 12 quoted the following exchange from
the press conference:
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
2
Question: "Would talks with President Nixon, when he
becomes President, still have some visible effect (on the
'significant' defense decisions)
Gorton: "Well, obviously they would be extremely
valuable. There is no point in talking to Mr. Nixon until
he has become established in his office, selected his public
servants and Cabinet ministers and had a chance to study
matters from the box seat. But I think as soon as that has
taken place, it would obviously be of great value to have
talks with him. I would envisage that time -- depending a
good deal on the convenience of the President himself -- as
being March or April. The defense forces and so on have
not got to wait for that. "
5. Furlonger, Australian Embassy Minister, phoned me
December 13 on the subject of a Gorton visit. He said he was
not making a formal request or proposal (though he implied
vaguely that Ambassador Waller might later raise the matter
separately at a higher level) and assured me the Embassy had
heard nothing officially from Canberra, but wanted me to know
informally that the Embassy "discerns evidence" that Gorton
probably would like to visit the President "about the beginning
of April. " I told Furlonger that I would inquire into the
policy regarding state visits but reminded him that the situation
is likely to be fluid for some time. By way of comment on
my guess that there would not be many state visits during
the first part of the year, Furlonger commented that Gorton
might find it difficult to understand a negative response
should he in fact seek an April meeting.
6. I see no reason to change the EA recommendation regarding
state visits already made to Ambassador Murphy's office, but
Ambassador Murphy might wish to know of the latest developments
regarding a Gorton visit, described above.
EA/ANZ: CCBrower/RWMoore:rlw
CONFIDENTIAL