187. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1 2
SUBJECT:
- Message to General Gowon
Secretary Rogers will be in Lagos, Nigeria, on February 18 and will see the head of the military government, General Gowon. Elliot Richardson seconds Ambassador Trueheartʼs recommendation that the Secretary take the opportunity to deliver a personal message from you to General Gowon, and that he extend on your behalf an invitation to General Gowon to visit the United States at a date to be determined (Tab C).
Both of these steps are calculated to improve our relations with the Federal Military Government in Nigeria and specifically with General Gowon. Our relations have been somewhat strained in recent weeks as Gowon has reacted to what he considers unfair and unwarranted criticism in the western press including that of the United States.
Gowon believes that he has acted magnanimously in his treatment of the vanquished secessionist Biafrans and that he is moving rapidly and effectively to meet the needs of the suffering in the former secessionist area. He considers that our pressures for greater relief efforts reflect a lack of confidence in him and his government.
I am convinced that our best hope of a real and rapid improvement in the relief situation in the stricken areas of Eastern Nigeria lies in closer and more understanding relations with Gowon and recommend therefore that you authorize Secretary Rogers to convey a letter from you to General Gowon (Tab A).
At the same time we must recognize that relief efforts still are moving slowly and that we can help the Nigerians solve this problem. This may be the only opportunity we will have for a meaningful high-level dialogue with Gowon on the relief needs in Nigeria. Moreover, if we do not express continuing interest in relief efforts during the Secretaryʼs visit, our failure to do so may [Page 2] be taken by Gowon and his associates as evidence that we are wholly satisfied with progress thus far. Accordingly, I have revised Stateʼs draft letter to General Gowon to advise that you have asked Secretary Rogers to discuss ways in which we might be of assistance in Nigeriaʼs relief efforts.
An invitation to Gowon to visit the United States at some future date would be a warm gesture and probably would be well received. It carries with it, however, some risk of unfavorable domestic reaction. Congressional voices, which are quiet for the moment, probably will be raised again if the momentum of the relief effort does not increase. If word of an invitation to Gowon, however vague as to date, were to get out and progress on relief were inadequate we would be open to criticism for having taken such a step in the absence of satisfactory Nigerian moves on relief. The gesture, however, would help to establish the rapport we need if our relief efforts are to have prompt and full effect.
Recommendation:
That you authorize the Secretary to invite General Gowon to visit the United States at a date to be determined later, but that no announcement of the invitation be made at this time. A draft cable for this purpose is at Tab B.
Letter to General Gowon
Approved ______ [checkmark here] Disapproved_______
Invitation to Gowon for Visit to U.S.
Approved ______ [checkmark here] Disapproved_______
Attachments
- Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 4, Memoranda to the President, Jan–Feb 1970, Feb 1970, folder 2. Secret; NODIS. The attachments are not published. Nixon approved both the letter and the invitation but wrote in regard to the latter, “but keep it very vague.” Kissinger noted on page one, “To Haig-Rush.” Attached, but not published, was a February 18 handwritten note from Haig to Kissinger stating, “Iʼve implemented this with very vagueʼ caveat. Note, Richardson cable sent w/out our clearance!”↩
- Kissinger seconded a recommendation from Ambassador to Nigeria Trueheart and Under Secretary Richardson that Secretary of State Rogers, while seeing Major General Gowon, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria, the next day, deliver a personal letter from the President and extend an invitation to visit the United States. Both steps were calculated to improve strained relations. Kissinger expressed concern that if the United States did not express continuing interest in relief efforts, failure to do so might be taken as satisfaction with current measures.↩