137. Minutes of the Meeting of the Washington Special Action Group

The WSAG discussed options for responding to the Ethiopian arms replenishment request. Secretary of State Kissinger said he would ask the President whether or not to provide arms.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 81, National Security Council, Meetings and Panels, Washington Special Actions Group, February-March 75. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. Colby’s briefing, February 25, was attached, but is not published.

138. Note From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to Secretary of State Kissinger

The WSAG discussed options for responding to the Ethiopian arms replenishment request. Secretary of State Kissinger said he would ask the President whether or not to provide arms.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 81, National Security Council, Meetings and Panels, Washington Special Actions Group, February-March 75. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. Colby’s briefing, February 25, was attached, but is not published.

139. Telegram 51900 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ethiopia

The Department provided Ambassador Hummel with talking points for his discussions with Ethiopian officials, including U.S. approval to sell up to $7 million for arms re-supply.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Ethiopia, State Telegrams from SECSTATE-NODIS. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by Coote and approved by Mulcahy.

140. Minutes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting

Secretary of State Kissinger and his staff discussed the Soviet cruise missile facility in Berbera, Somalia.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 7, Secretary’s Staff Meetings. Secret

141. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of State (Ingersoll) to President Ford

Ingersoll requested that Ford sign a waiver of the $10 million ceiling on military assistance to Africa.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975, P750087–2075. Confidential. The attachments are not published. A typed notation at the top of the first page reads: “Pres. Determination No. 75–20 signed by President May 20.”

142. Interagency Memorandum DCI/NIO 1076–75

he memorandum analyzed the current problems facing the region of East Africa and concluded that considerable potential for regional conflicted existed.

Source: Department of State, Khartoum Embassy Files: Lot 80 F 170, ORG-POL, Box 1, Africa 1976. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem. The Tables are not published

143. Briefing Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Mulcahy) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Mulcahy provided a general status report on Ethiopia, including both internal developments and relations with the United States.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, AF/E Files: 78 D 130, Box 1, POL 1 General Policy, Ethiopia 1975. Confidential. Drafted by Barrett and Coote, cleared by S/P. The staff meeting minutes referred to are ibid., Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 7, Secretary’s Staff Meetings

144. Memorandum of Conversation

Senator Dewey Bartlett (R-OK) confirmed the presence of Soviet facilities in Berbera after his return from Somalia.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 13, Ford Administration. Confidential. The meeting took place in the Oval Office of the White House. Congressman Samuel Stratton (D-N.Y.) accompanied Bartlett to Somalia. The text of his press conference, with a fuller description of Soviet facilities, was printed in telegram 162532 to Mogadiscio, July 10. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975)

145. Telegram 1287 From the Embassy in Somalia to the Department of State

Ambassador John L. Loughran analyzed U.S. and Soviet roles in the views and strategy of President Siad.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Addis Ababa, Jidda, Nairobi, Khartoum, Cairo, Moscow, Paris, London, Rome, Dar Es Salaam, Sana, and USUN.

146. Memorandum of Conversation

President Ford and Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Scowcroft met with Somali Ambassador Addou and briefly discussed their two countries relations.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 15, Ford Administration. Confidential; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Oval Office of the White House. The incident in San Francisco was a failed assassination attempt on President Ford.

147. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Davis) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Davis reviewed the status of Kagnew Station and presented options regarding closure.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Brent Scowcroft Daily Work Files, Box 29, Chronological File B. Confidential. There is no indication of Kissinger’s action. Drafted on September 24 by Barrett; cleared by PM, OSD/ISA, S/CCT, and AF/E.

148. Memorandum of Conversation

Secretary of State Kissinger and his staff spoke with Foreign Minister Kifle about internal changes in Ethiopia, U.S. economic assistance, Somali-Ethiopian tensions, and the fate of Americans captured at Kagnew Station.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975, P820117–0544. Confidential; Nodis. Kissinger was in New York for a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. Drafted by Coote

149. Memorandum From Clinton Granger of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)

Granger reviewed the pros and cons of selling of 16 F–5E jets to Ethiopia, and recommended approval of the sale. Scowcroft approved the recommendation.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 2, Ethiopia. Confidential. Sent for action. Scowcroft approved the recommendation. Cleared by Les Janka and Hal Horan of the NSC. Hummel’s telegram 12392 from Addis Ababa, October 24, is ibid.

150. National Security Study Memorandum 233

Secretary of State Kissinger tasked the Departments of State and Defense, and the CIA to review U.S. interests in a continued presence at Kagnew Station.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Brent Scowcroft Daily Work Files, Box 17, Chronological File B. Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

151. Study Prepared by the Ad Hoc Inter-Departmental Working Group for Africa

[Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Brent Scowcroft Daily Work Files, Box 17, Chronological File B. Secret. 26 pages not declassified in time for publication.]

152. Telegram 277323 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Somalia

The Department summarized Deputy Secretary Ingersoll’s November 21 discussion with Somali Ambassador Addou regarding attempts to improve U.S.-Somali relations.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy Files, 1975. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Addis Ababa and Moscow. Drafted by Scott and Coote (AF/E); cleared by D and S/S; approved in AF/E.

153. Interagency Intelligence Memorandum DCI/NIO 2461/75

The memorandum reviewed prospects for Ethiopia in 1976, including internal politics, and relations with the United States, the Soviet Union and the Arab states.

Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Box 14, Ethiopia, 1974–79. Secret. State/INR drafted the memorandum with contributions from CIA and DIA; it was reviewed by representatives of those organizations.

154. Minutes of the Meeting of the Senior Review Group

The Senior Review Group met to consider the future of Kagnew Station, following up on the NSSM 233 study.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council Files, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. Lt. Gen. Walters’ briefing is located in the Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Brent Scowcroft Daily Work Files, Box 31, Chronological File B.

155. Defense Intelligence Estimate DIE SOV 2–76

The Estimate assessed trends in the establishment of Soviet facilities in Somalia and their significance for Soviet interests in the region.

Source: Department of State, Nairobi Embassy Files: Lot 79 F 186, Box 6, POL—Somalia, 1976. Secret; Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals. Cleared by the Intelligence Chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Approved by Robert J. Bower, Acting Deputy Director for Estimates, Defense Intelligence Agency

156. Memorandum From Jeanne Davis of the National Security Council Staff to the Deputy Secretaries of State (Ingersoll) and Defense (Clements), Director of Central Intelligence Bush, and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (Smith)

Davis reviewed the conclusions of the February 12 Senior Review Group meeting.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Institutional Files, Box 33, IF/NS Files for the President, Summary of SRG Meeting on NSSM 233. Top Secret.

157. Telegram 412 From the Embassy in Somalia to the Department of State

Ambassador Loughran reported that Somali attitudes toward the United States had not improved since the announcement of resumption of economic assistance six months earlier. He recommended quietly suspending implementation of U.S. aid renewal.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy File, 1976. Secret; Immediate; Exdis.

158. Telegram 3228 From the Embassy in Ethiopia to the Department of State

Ambassador Hummell reported that Secretary of State Kissinger would receive a smooth reception in Ethiopia if he chose to visit during his upcoming trip to Africa.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy File. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis.

159. National Security Study Memorandum 239

Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Scowcroft notified the Departments of State and Defense and the CIA that President Ford had directed a study of the independence process of the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (FTAI) and policy options for the United States. The directive was prompted by the impending independence of the FTAI and increased Ethiopian-Somali tension.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Institutional File, Box 39, IF/NS File for the President, Response to NSSM 239. Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. NSSM 184 is printed as Document 89.

160. Telegram 4993 From the Embassy in Ethiopia to the Department of State

Ambassador Hummel assessed the increasing radicalization of the Ethiopian revolution and warned of substantial dangers for the future.

Source: Department of State, Nairobi Embassy Files: Lot 79 F 186, Box 5, POL—Ethiopia, 1976. Confidential. Repeated to Asmara, Cairo, Khartoum, London, Mogadiscio, Moscow, Nairobi, Paris, and Peking.

161. Study Prepared by the Ad Hoc Inter-Departmental Group for Africa

The Study analyzed the forthcoming independence of the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (FTAI), its consequences for U.S. interests, and options available to the United States.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Institutional File, Box 39, IF/NS File for the President, Response to NSSM 239. Secret. Prepared and approved by the ad hoc Interdepartmental Group under the Chairmanship of Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Schaufele. Sections IV-VII and Tabs 1 and 2 are not published.

162. Telegram 7985 From the Embassy in Ethiopia to the Department of State

On the eve of his departure from Ethiopia, Ambassador Hummel offered a strategy to deal with the Government of Ethiopia that would limit damage to U.S. interests and maintain steadiness in U.S. policy and programs.

Source: Department of State, Nairobi Embassy Files: Lot 79 F 186, Box 6, POL—Ethiopia, 1976. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Asmara, Khartoum, Mogadiscio, and Nairobi.

163. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Borg) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)

The memorandum forwarded a follow-up study on the response to NSSM 239 owing to recent changes in French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (FTAI), including election of a new government and advancing a referendum to January 1977.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Institutional File, Box 46, IF/NS File for the President, NSSM 239. Secret; Noforn

164. Report No. 572 Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research

The report analyzed recent challenges to the radical leaders of the Ethiopian Revolution, and implications for foreign policy.

Source: Department of State, Khartoum Embassy Files: Lot 80 F 170, Box 2, POL Ethiopia, January-June 1976. Secret; Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals. Drafted by Reid and approved by Thorne.

165. Memorandum of Conversation

Secretary of State Kissinger and Somali Minister of Mineral and Water Resources Hussein Abdulkadir Kassim discussed bilateral relations.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Policy File, 1976, P820118–1722. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Secretary’s apartment at the Waldorf-Astoria. Kissinger was in New York for a meeting of the UN General Assembly

166. Minutes of the Meeting of the Senior Review Group

The Senior Review Group met to consider courses of action regarding the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (TFAI) and NSSM 239 (Document159). Four decisions were taken.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS 71, National Security Council Files, Committees and Panels, Senior Review Group. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. The attachment, the DCI Briefing for SRG, is not attached. A draft of the attachment is in the Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry, Job 84B00513R, Box 8, Folder 20, NSSM 239. A draft NSDM, The Future of the French Territory of the Afars and Issas (FTAI), was not issued. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Institutional File, Box 46, IF/NS File for the President, Senior Review Group on NSSM 239)