Office of the Historian

157. Message From Secretary of State Kissinger to French President Giscard d’Estaing1

Washington, December 20, 1975, 0217Z.

WH 52536. Deliver at opening of business.

Dear Mr. President:

The President wanted me to supplement my earlier message2 in light of the Congressional action today.3 We are able to continue the [Page 404] program of assistance in Angola, with current funds, at least, through the end of January and we intend to maximize weapons assistance. We will have another opportunity to reopen the issue with the Congress in January. Assistant Secretary Schaufele will proceed immediately to Zaire, Zambia, Gabon and Ivory Coast, and I have sent further instructions to our Embassies to prevent discouragement. We would appreciate any additional views you might have.4

Warm regards.

  1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 12, General Subject File, France, General (4). Top Secret; Operational Immediate.↩
  2. Document 155.↩
  3. Presumably a reference to passage of the Tunney Amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill (December 19), which cut off aid to Angola.↩
  4. A December 24 letter from Giscard d’Estaing agreed with Kissinger’s assessment on the need for increased diplomatic efforts to avoid further recognition of the MPLA as the official government of Angola. He also informed Kissinger that the French Government had “taken the necessary measures on the manpower and matériel front to face this adverse situation head-on.” (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 12, General Subject File, France, General (4))↩