153. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to Chile.]
[P:] How about Ambassador Korry. Is there anything new?
K: I saw Karamessines today. That looks hopeless. I turned it off. Nothing would be worse than an abortive coup.
P: Just tell him to do nothing. What I am afraid with the . . . that Charlie Meir (phonetic) [Meyer] will get him in his clutches and continue a lot of AID and I am not going to do a thing for them. I won’t [continue that much aid there.]2
K: They have not said that they are nationalizing any companies, them or anything.
[Page 373]P: I think the line with him is to be coolly detached. After all he has not been selected yet.
K: If he is . . .
P: Then we cut him off. Hickenlooper applies. This country has gotten 2½ million dollars. Worst [diplomatic mess we have gotten ourselves into.]
K: You have said it all along and I was not at all sure until [until just lately.] I had the Chilean Ambassador in today. He said is that what we accomplished. Is that what we have worked for. [He is a very nice man.]3
[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to Chile.]
- Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 365, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.↩
- These and all the remaining brackets except the final ones are in the original.↩
- According to his Record of Schedule, Kissinger met with Santa-Maria from 5:12 until 5:50 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968–1976) No substantive record of the meeting has been found.↩