Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, 1973–1976

196. Memorandum for the File by the President’s Assistant for International Economic Affairs (Flanigan)¹

Washington, November 2, 1973, 6 p.m.

Ambassador Dobrynin called to ask about the apparent conflict between my statement that the Administration did not wish to go forward with a Trade Bill if it would result in Title IV including the full Jackson–Vanik,² and the published reports of Congressman Albert saying that Kissinger had agreed to go forward with the Bill on the 12th of November.³ I told Dobrynin that we believed the report on the Albert conversation was incorrect and that Kissinger believes that he still has until the middle of next week, the opportunity to ask that the bill be withdrawn.⁴ I pointed out that there is no assurance that the Congress will accede to our request.

Dobrynin, saying that his request was only for his own information, expressed some concern. I told him that the Administration still was very anxious that there be no vote in the House of Representatives which would impair our cooperation and that therefore, we were urging the dropping of Title IV. I told him that we were not yet in a position to feel confident that Title IV would be dropped. If it were not dropped, we would then consider requesting that the bill be withdrawn. However, I again pointed out that there was no assurance this request would be honored.

Peter M. Flanigan

⁵

1. Source: National Archives, RG 56, Records of Secretary of the Treasury George P. Shultz, 1971–1974, Entry 166, Box 6, GPS Trade—Volumes I & II 1973/74. Secret.
2. On October 29, Flanigan testified before the Senate Banking Committee that Congress should suspend its consideration of the U.S.–USSR trading relationship while negotiations on the Middle East conflict were ongoing and requested the deletion of Title IV from the trade bill. (The New York Times, October 30, 1973, p. 1)
3. On November 1, Speaker of the House Albert announced that Kissinger had told him that the White House would ask for no further delays of House consideration of the trade bill. (Ibid., November 2, 1973) On October 31 at 6:02 p.m., Kissinger informed Albert on the telephone: “Our problem is we have not been able to get enough of an indication from the Jewish Community if they would support dropping Title IV. Our view on it is that if they would, we would want to have it voted on now.” Kissinger inquired as to whether the vote could be scheduled for the week of November 12 and Albert agreed to see whether it could. Kissinger then told Albert: “If you could put it on the week of November 12, we would then take the liberty of letting you know next week.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 23)
4. During a November 2 telephone conversation with Flanigan at 2:35 p.m., Kissinger commented on the tactics behind scheduling the vote for the week of November 12: “I have done exactly as I was told. We had it put on the calendar the week of the 12th, which gives us the option of taking it off next week.” (Ibid.)
5. Printed from a copy that bears Flanigan’s typed signature.