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1553073
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May 12, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger
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1553073
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document
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May 12, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger
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collections
Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
subjects
Greece
Turkey
Panama Canal (Panama)
Arms transfers
Mayagüez Incident, 1975
Presidential campaign, 1976
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12
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1975-05-12
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5
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1975
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12
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1975-05-12
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5
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1975
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
and Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Monday, May 12, 1975
9:15 a.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
The White House
SUBJECTS:
Campaign; Mayaguez; Cyprus; Cuba;
Panama Canal; OAS
The President: The campaign part of the effort will be outside the White
House. But I am setting up an informal group within the White House
consisting of me, Nelson, Rumsfeld, Hartmann, and Morton. I would like
you to be a part of it so we can keep foreign policy meshed with the political
thing.
Kissinger: Will it be known?
The President: No. I think we need a foreign policy input.
Kissinger: I could come out constantly making speeches, so it couldn't
be charged as politicizing foreign policy. I think your election is essential.
These Latins, who are mostly leftists, are worried about the Congress.
The President: I want you to be a part of it.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, Sec. 3.5
Kissinger: This election is one of the most crucial ever.
NSC Memo, 11/24/98, State Dept. Guidelines
NARA, Date 1/31/2000
The President: Look at the alternatives. Reagan would be a disaster.
By
Kissinger: He is incompetent
CLASSIFIED BY HENRY A. KISSINGER
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
EXEMPTION CATEGORY 5 (b) (1,3)
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to det.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
-2-
The President: Any Democrat from Kennedy on down would be a disaster.
Kissinger: Especially the people they would bring in. Kennedy brought
on most of our problems.
[Discussing his speeches -- General Scowcroft left for a bit]. 1
There is one controversial part on raw materials which I will
settle with Seidman. There is no dispute on agriculture or energy. The
issue is commodity agreements or trading rules. Treasury has agreed
to discuss it. Enders is so overpowering that people agree but have
second thoughts afterwards. Part of the problem is jurisdictional.
The President: Probably 90% is.
Kissinger: Simon's problem is not substantive. I am not sure what
Seidman
The President: Don't worry about him.
Kissinger: The Cambodians have seized a U.S. ship 100 miles from their
coast. It's a SEALAND ship, the Mayaguest. It's 450 feet, 10, 000 tons.
We have no data on the gunboat -- There was no English-speaking
person among the Cambodian boarding party. It was probably within the
12-mile limit, which we don't recognize. Our closest vessel is at Subic.
Kissinger: A U.S. -Soviet deal on the Middle East would be attacked by
the Jews as a sellout to the Soviets.
Portugal is in part, our fault. The Soviets moved in after the
revolt. We did nothing, because Nixon was on his last legs. After you
came in, Chile had blown up and we were paralyzed.
I think it is better to have people snipping at detente than us
returning to the Cold War and have the liberals move back to the left
of us.
The Baltimore Sun now is saying we gave up on-site. That never
came up and it wouldn't work. The SS-18 we maybe can get them to
declare.
The President: How about the ship?
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
FORD LIBRARY
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
-3-
Scowcroft: [Described the situation].
Kissinger: We should send a staff note through the Chinese and see what
options we have.
[Discussion of Cambodia, the Indochina force prohibition, and the
War Powers Act. ]
Kissinger: I think we need to show some movement on Turkey.
The President: I think we need to bring the top leadership down here. Can
we talk specifically about our installations and wh at we will lose? I think
we must lay it on the line, even if it leaks.
Kissinger: I agree. But we can't promise too much on the negotiation.
Things may move. Makarios said he would settle for a bizonal solution
and 30%. You should meet with the Greek and Turkish Prime Ministers
[at NATO]. Maybe have a lunch or something. We can improvise that.
But if your prestige gets too involved, the Greeks may think they can use
you.
The President: I am willing to meet with the Turkish Ambassador and have
a leadership meeting.
Kissinger: The alternatives would be lifting it, using a waiver, or lifting the
prohibition on sales and credit.
The President: We could hav e the four leaders here first: Mansfield,
Scott, Sparkman, Case. Give me some talking points. Set something up.
[A meeting was set up for Mansfield from 6:00 to 7:00 Wednesday. ]
Kissinger: On Panama there are two issues -- the duration of the treaty
and the duration of the Canal defense arrangement. Defense will buy a
25-year treaty with a 50-year defense arrangement. The JCS may buy 40
years. If these negotiations fail, we will be beaten to death in every inter-
national forum and there will be riots all over Latin America. We maybe
could work out the signing the end of this year, submit it to the Senate
with the understanding there will be no action until '77, or not submit it.
Panama could then ratify it first. If it collapses we will have massive
problems. If you sign it you will also have massive problems.
SECRETYNODIS/XGDS
FORD LIBRARY
ECRET/NODIS/XGDS
- -4-
The President: Will the Thurmonds and floods go crazy?
Kissinger: Yes. I think there are no terms they would accept.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
FORD is LIBRARY G7VN30
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