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December 17 1974 - Ford, Kissinger, Bipartisan Congressional Leadership
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December 17 1974 - Ford, Kissinger, Bipartisan Congressional Leadership
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Soviet Union
Greece
Turkey
Syria
Martinique
Israel
France
Cyprus
Egypt
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (04/04/1949 - )
Nuclear nonproliferation
Energy policy
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1974
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1974-12-17
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12
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1974
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
IA
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
Bipartisan Leadership (List Attached)
President Gerald R. Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to the
President for National Security Affairs
DATE & TIME:
Tuesday - December 17, 1974
9:00 10:00 a. m.
PLACE:
The Cabinet Room
The White House
SUBJECT:S
Martinique; NATO & Cyprus; Foreign Aid
President: Thanks for coming. I know you all have a tight schedule.
Let me give you some of the atmosphere at Martinique, and what was
achieved.
The last ten years, you know, U.S. -French relations have been cool
historically. Giscard I found extremely able and well-informed; he was
NSC GUIDELINES 3/10/04
willing to discuss all topics frankly and amicably.
[The press was admitted briefly for photographs, and then departed.]
E.O. 18950, SEC. 3.5
NARA, DATE 5/10/04
Our position on energy was we had to get consumer solidarity before we
could meet with the producers. The French thought a consumer-producer
meeting was of primary importance, but we felt the producers could pick
us off one-by-one if there was no prior unity among the consumers. There
were substantial negotiations on this question before we reached the
DECLASSIFIED
MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT.
announced positions. I would like to point out that we had consultations
before with the Germans and Japanese. So all were on board.
FORD
P
BY
CONFIDENTIAL
GERALD
TOP SECRET - XGDS (3)
CLASSIFIED BY: HENRY A. KISSINGER
CONFIDENTIAL
- 2 -
We agreed to approach energy cooperation in four steps: First, there would
be intensified efforts at further cooperation among the consumers, in areas
such as conservation and financial solidarity. Second, if there is progress
in that area, there will be a preliminary meeting between consumers and
producers to prepare for a consumer-producers conference. The target
date for the preparatory meeting would be March 1975. Third, there will
be intensive consultations among the consumer nations to prepare for the
conference. Fourth, there will be a consumer-producers conference.
The press is saying that we won, the French lost, etcetra. We reject
that categorization. It was a good negotiation. Our view is that both
sides achieved results which are to the benefit of both parties and indeed
of all the industrial nations. It went extremely well for everyone.
It may have looked like we spent most of the time on non-business. That's
not so. We added it up, and if you figure the three two-hour formal
meetings and the working lunch and two dinners, it came to 16-18 hours
or SO.
We took up some other matters. FRELOC was settled at $100 million.
The French, you know, are not a party to the NPT, but we are concerned
about nuclear safeguards and the lowering of standards in the push to sell
nuclear reactors. We are trying to get the exporters to agree on safeguards,
and the French attitude appears helpful.
We discussed CSCE and agreed generally on the timing of mid-1975 for a
conclusion.
We discussed the Middle East. France, you know, supports the 1967 borders,
which Israel bitterly opposes. More and more states are going with the
French position.
Secretary Kissinger has a comment on his Brussels meeting at NATO and
on Cyprus.
Kissinger: First let me add a word on Martinique. In an uncoordinated
producer meeting, we would be beaten to death and we would be better off
dealing with them bilaterally. We wanted a solution broader than energy.
The civil war in the Atlantic community, where each has to choose between
the U.S. and France, should be moderated if France carries out its
CONFIDENTIAL
GERALD
LIBRARY
CONFIDENTIAL
- 3 -
declarations. Also, France has now agreed to consult and cooperate on
economic policies. Of course, it all depends on how these are carried
out, but if they are, we have made a big step toward the cohesion of the
industrial countries.
In Brussels we covered two principal topics: First, I briefed the allies on
Vladivostok. We assured them that no side deals were made. We also
discussed energy, East-West relations, and MBFR, HOW that FBS is not a
part of SALT.
I also had very extensive talks with the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers
on the Cyprus issue. I was struck by the fact -- I saw each of them about
five times that each one of them saw that we faced two choices: Either
to dig in for a long confrontation, trying to get the U.S. involved, or to move
for a rapid settlement. I think they decided on the latter, and there will be
moves very soon. I will provide the documents to the Foreign Affairs
committees. With some luck, and our influence, we may see some real
progress in the early months of the year and visible progress over the
coming weeks. We have been discussing with Congressional leaders in
getting the foreign aid bill in shape to support this, and great credit is due to
the Congressional leaders.
President: Let me thank everyone in the Conference and who worked on the
floor. The bill as I understand it will be helpful not only in Turkey but in
other areas. It is not just the way we would have written it and the dollar
amounts are not all we would want, but it is a good bill and I thank you all.
I want you to know that Secretary Kissinger and I won't come to you except
in cases of high national interest. We are grateful for your help and will
keep the arm-twisting to a minimum. We will consult closely on policy,
and when we come to you it will be primarily a matter of tactics, which I
think only one man is in a position really to determine.
Are there any questions? I would like to make this a real give-and-take.
Senator Fulbright: Let me ask, Mr. President, what you see as the prospects
in the Middle East? The papers are all talking about war in the Middle East.
President: I have talked to many of them and all agree that unless progress
is made, the chance of war there is very high. No one thinks otherwise.
Each war gets more costly in men and armaments. There is also the
possibility that a war would renew the oil embargo. Also, a U.S. -Soviet
CONFIDENTIAL
GERALD
LIBRARY
CONFIDENTIAL
- 4 -
confrontation is likely. We came close to it in 1973. The Rabat conference
was unfortunate -- I believe it could have been avoided if there had been more
movement. We are working with both sides to try to move, We are not
opposed to resumption of Geneva but we fear that at this point it would only
lead to a stalemate.
Representative O'Neill: How about the PLO?
President: Israel refuses to negotiate with them.
Kissinger: This is not a fruitful area right now. They don't recognize
Israel's right to exist.
Representative O'Neill: I recall there are four issues: Sinai, the Golan,
the Palestinians and Jerusalem.
Kissinger: We have moved in the first two, but the Syrians just got back what
they lost in 1973. If Israel had moved -- this should be kept just in this
room -- with Hussein, the most moderate Arab of them all, there would
have been no Rabat decision. That stymied them now. Only the Egyptian
front is now open. But Sadat is becoming isolated, and if the Israeli offer
is not sufficient to justify his going it alone, he may not be willing to try.
The friends of Israel should urge it to be flexible. If Egypt fails -- with
Jordan failing and the Syrians being told every day that nothing more is
possible -- we will be in bad shape.
Representative McFall: Has anyone suggested something which might be
acceptable to both?
Kissinger: The PLO issue could wait a bit if we had other movement going on.
But they will have to recognize the right of Israel's existence.
We believe in the step-by-step approach because a global approach would
only lead to stalemate, and the step-by-step approach would make possible
things which now seem inconceivable. We are working, but quietly, so
radicals can't roadblock anything prior to completion.
Representative Bray: I am worried about the recent Iranian statement. That
probably would include Turkey too.
President: This illustrates the degree to which Israel is being isolated.
FORD
&
CONFIDENTIAL
GERALD
LIBRARY
CONFIDENTIAL
- 5 -
Kissinger: This also points out especially why we shouldn't push Turkey in
this direction.
Representative Cederberg: Does Israel realize this erosion in its position?
I am not sure the Congress is that strong for Israel.
Kissinger: They may confuse willingness to vote money with willingness to
go to war.
Senator Humphrey: They are not confused. They will make concessions but
not before the Brezhnev visit to Cairo. They don't want to honor him.
Kissinger: We agree on that. But there is also a problem with Israel's
internal politics.
Senator Humphrey: I spoke at length with them. I told them they had to trust
us and trust Secretary Kissinger. I don't think they are trigger happy. I
told them that a preemptive war would be a major blunder. Israel has a
parliamentary democracy -- they don't have someone who can call the shots.
I get discouraged with Arafat and all the extreme statements.
President: I have a meeting this week with a group of Jewish leaders. I
will tell them the same, but they have to be reasonable. They must trust us.
But they must know that if there is a war, there could be an anti-Israel
surge in the U.S.
Senator Fulbright: The Secretary said earlier that the Soviet Union would
have to be brought in. It looks less and less likely now, even with detente.
Dobrynin says they are willing to join in a guarantee of Israel's existence.
I think if we would go to Geneva, the Soviets would help.
Kissinger: We agree on Geneva. It is a matter of timing. We are thinking
of reconvening Geneva after a second Sinai agreement.
If the Soviet Union would agree to some compromise position between Israel
and the Arabs, we could work it out -- but if all they do is just support the
Arabs' extreme positions, there is no reason to get them involved.
Senator Stennis: We have helped Israel greatly, but it should be clear we can't
support them with manpower.
President: We have made no commitment of that kind and have made that
clear to them.
FORD
CONFIDENTIAL
GERALO A. ABHART
CONFIDENTIAL
- 6 -
Representative Mahon: There is a limit on the money the Congress is willing
to give. There is more and more reluctance.
Representative Bray: Not only money. We are giving them tanks in excess
of our own production.
President: How about the Continuing Resolution on aid? Where do we stand?
Representative Morgan: We have worked out the Turkish language with
February 5th as the cutoff date. The conference report should be to you
by tomorrow night.
Representative Mahon: We agreed there would be no Continuing Resolution
prior to the Authorization bill. There will be no appropriation -- just a
single resolution extending the date -- with something for Cyprus refugees.
Something also for jobs.
Kissinger: My understanding was that the Continuing Resolution would
appropriate a part of the authorization. Egypt has gotten zero after a year
of association with us. We had hoped that the Continuing Resolution would
make available part of that authorization.
Representative Cederberg: What date? It is not practical to make it short of
March 1.
President: Plan the Continuing Resolution language on the basis of the
authorization.
Representative Mahon: Give the whole amount?
Representative Cederberg: At the same rate.
Representative Mahon: We can't settle that here.
Representative Morgan: Maybe we could add the Middle East package.
President: Let me turn to a couple of other things. Rockefeller is to be
sworn in in the Senate?
Senator Scott/Representative O'Neill: Yes.
FORD
&
CONFIDENTIAL
GERALD
LIBRARY
CONFIDENTIAL
- 7 -
Senator McClellan: There will be an amendment on the Continuing Resolution
to cut $3. 5 billion from outlays and $10 billion from obligational authority.
It will be a battle.
Senator Humphrey: What can we say on the Aid Bill on the floor?
Kissinger: I understand that Brademas and his colleagues will support the
report but don't want it said that it came out of a talk with us.
President: What estimate do you have on the trade bill?
: Russell said he would get it down this week.
President: We will plan the swearing in for Thursday.
FORD
CONFIDENTIAL
GENERAL
PARTICIPANTS
EXECUTIVE
The President
The Secretary of State
SENATE
Hugh Scott (R-Pa)
Robert Griffin (R-Mich)
Frank Moss (D-Utah)
William Fulbright (D-Ark)
George Aiken (R-Vt)
John McClellan (D-Ark)
Milton Young (R-ND)
John Stennis (D-Miss)
Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
Hubert H. Humprehy (D-Minn)
HOUSE
)
John Rhodes (R-Ariz) Note: He is unable to speak due to recent surgery.
John McFall (D-Cal)
Leslie Arends (R-III)
Olin Teague (D-Tex)
John Anderson (R-III)
Thomas Morgan (D-Pa)
Peter Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
George Mahon (D-Tex)
Al Cederberg (R-Mich)
William Bray (R-Ind)
STAFF
REGRETS
Anne Armstrong
Sen. Mike Mansfield (D-Mont)
Phil Buchen
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WVa)
Robert Hartmann
Sen. Norris Cotton (R-NH)
John Marsh
Rep. Carl Albert (D-Okla)
Donald Rumsfeld
Rep. F. Edward Hebert (D-La)
Gen. Brent Scowcroft
Rep. Thomas O'Neill (D-Mass)
Bill Timmons
Ron Nessen
Tom Korologos
Max Friedersdorf
LIBRARY
Pres. / Leadership hity
Transanbed
17 Inc 14
by PUR
234.74 23 Dec 74
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withing to discuss all topics fineshly +
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C Wrt
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DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES State Devient 3/10/04
GERALD
BY in
NARA DATE 5/10/04
2
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