Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume VIII, International Monetary and Trade Policy

369. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Representative for National Security Affairs (Bator) to President Johnson¹

Washington, June 28, 1967, 7 p.m.

SUBJECT

• Final Authorization to Sign the Kennedy Round Bargain

At Tabs A and B,² Bill Roth formally notifies you that—if you approve—the final Kennedy Round will be signed in Geneva (and London) at 5:00 A.M. our time on Friday, June 30. You know the general outlines of the bargain. There has been minor jockeying around the edges in the past two weeks, but the deal remains essentially unchanged. It is balanced over-all and with the EEC, and it contains a healthy agriculture component.

Mike Blumenthal would do the actual signing for us in Geneva, and David Bruce the UK grains bilateral in London. They need no further legal authority, beyond your OK. I recommend you authorize us to tell them to go ahead.

Press Treatment

Roth will be at George Christian’s Thursday³ briefing to describe the Geneva procedure and to answer questions. Over the next few weeks, Roth plans a series of press sessions on specific commodity areas. We will check out that schedule with you next week before going ahead.

In addition, I think it would be useful to have a small ceremony after the Congressional recess, at which the President would present copies of the final Kennedy Round report to members of the Congress and public advisory committees established by the TEA.⁴ We can try to pretty-up the reports so that they will be reasonably attractive mementos of the most important single tariff negotiation in history.

Remaining Odds and Ends

Like all major negotiations, this one will involve some pulling and hauling on minor points up until the last minute. (We will come back to you if any major issue should arise. I don’t expect any.)

B

O.K. to go ahead⁵

Speak to me

1. Source: Johnson Library, Bator Papers, Kennedy Round, May–June 1967, Box 12. No classification marking.
2. Neither tab is printed.
3. June 29.
4. See Office of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, Report on United States Negotiations, 2 vols. (Washington, 1967–1968).
5. This option line is handwritten above the typed line “Approve Roth memos.” The option is checked and initialed by the President. Telegram 218689 to Geneva, June 29, informed Blumenthal that the President had authorized signature of seven Kennedy Round instruments: (1) Final Act, (2) Geneva (1967) Protocol, (3) multilateral ASP agreement, (4) Memorandum of Understanding on cereals, (5) Antidumping Code, (6) bilateral ASP agreement with Japan, and (7) bilateral agreement with EEC on standstill rights. (Department of State, Central Files, FT 13–2 US)