168. Transcript of Telephone Conversation1 2
R: There is to be a meeting of the Nigerian work group. Elliot tells me the President wants to do something. What is it?
K: Good question.
R: Have to be careful.. Gowan will be key in Africa. He is resentful of too much intrusion. As practical matter we cannot do anything he doesnʼt want. We donʼt want to be in that posture. I want to say we agree and tell them whatever he wants to use, we will help. He did not like military people flying planes in.
K: I understand. Because of reasons, the President wants leadership in domestic areas.
R: I could issue a press release
K: Forming up what we have done this week. That would be helpful. He just called on the State of the Union but wanted to know what is being done in Nigeria.
R: A lot
K: If you could prepare a release, that would be best.
R: We must put it in a way not to get in trouble with Gowon. He thinks relief prolonged the war.
K: Probably right
R: We will see what we can do.
K: The latest figure from Lucet is 110. I asked him about a break down. He just hemmed. They donʼt make it easy to be pro-French.
R: I saw Zieglerʼs item on my speech. I just re-stated that I had said before
K: The President heard it last night and wanted the press to be sure it was understood. Zeigler wanted to confirm
R: Itʼs the same as my testimony.
—————further conversation in evening
R: Following up on Nigeria. There will be a draft press release on what has been done this week. During the weekend we expect to fly in 50 jeeps for relief.
[Page 2]K: Can we announce that?
R: Yes. We have asked permission from Gowon.
K: Exactly what the President wanted to do.
R: Ferguson is coming back on Monday. Perhaps the three of us could meet with the President and release that I am going to Nigeria.
K: He may not want to announce it. But you should be there. He may be going back to Camp David to work on the State of the Union.
R: I will try to have tomorrow formalizing Elliot Richardsonʼs committee. Then another one Sunday. Then after Ferguson can announce about medicines and such.
K: What about the Brandt visit. We should tell the Germans itʼs to enable you to be there.
R: SEATO meeting
K: Do you think that you will skip Saigon?
R: Saigon and then Phillipines and then back here for Brandt visit.
- Source: Library of Congress, Manuscripts Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 361, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.↩
- Rogers stated that Major General Gowon, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria, was the key to Africa, but that he resented intrusion. As a practical matter, the United States could not do anything that Gowon did not approve.↩