Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969–1972

214. Memorandum From Fred Rondon of the National Security Council Staff to the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹ ²

Washington, April 11, 1972

SUBJECT:

• Farewell Call by Nigerian Ambassador

Secretary Rogers has recommended that the Nigerian Ambassador pay a farewell call on the President (Tab II). Such a call would be a useful gesture to General Gowon, who has become one of Black Africaʼs most important, most respected leaders. He has been sharply disillusioned by US imports of Rhodesian chrome and recently told our Ambassador that we seem to place more importance on White rather than Black African interests. A call on the President would demonstrate that we value his friendship and that we are seriously interested in and are sympathetic to African aspirations. The President is familiar with the Byrd Amendment and with the help of a talker should not be placed in an uncomfortable position should the question of chrome imports arise. Ambassador Iyalla is an intelligent, outgoing individual.

RECOMMENDATION

That you initial the schedule proposal for the President at Tab I.

Tab I

Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Washington, April 6, 1972

Subject:

• Farewell Call for Nigerian Ambassador Iyalla

I recommend that you receive Ambassador Joe Iyalla of Nigeria for a farewell call sometime during the last two weeks in April.

With his close connections to General Gowon, and singleminded dedication to the national interests of Nigeria, Iyalla has been one of the most effective African diplomats over the four years he has served here. Apart from Gowon himself, no Nigerian has done more to restore good relations in the post war period.

In May Iyalla returns to Lagos to become Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, the top career official in the Nigerian foreign policy structure. Iyallaʼs new position will broaden his influence and bring it to bear on almost every foreign policy decision of the Federal Military Government. The possibility of Gowonʼs making a State Visit here next year, our access to leaders in Lagos, and the increasing scale of US private investment in Nigeria are all matters on which Iyalla will be giving key advice. Your receiving Iyalla for a farewell call would be a gesture of respect toward Gowon, would underline the importance of Nigeria in our African policy, and would further cordial relations with the Federal Military Government in the future.

A biographic sketch of the Ambassador is attached.

William P. Rogers.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 742, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Confidential. Sent for action. The suggested schedule attached at Tab II is not published, nor is the biographical sketch attached to Rogersʼ memorandum. A handwritten notation on Rondonʼs memorandum states, “disapproved by Genʼl Haig 4–14.” In an April 11 memorandum to John Howe, Jeanne Davis wrote: “I think this is a non-starter. The Presidentʼs office (Parker) has made it plain that the President does not want to see any more departing Ambassadors unless there are overriding reasons why he should. If HAK really wants to support this, we will have to be prepared to have one or two turn-downs before it actually goes through.” Haig wrote on the memorandum, “AgreeDrop it.” Both Haig and John Howe initialed Haigʼs comment. (Ibid.)
2. Rondon forwarded Secretary of State Rogersʼ memorandum recommending that Ambassador Iyalla pay a farewell call on the President. National Security Council Staff Secretary Jeanne Davis called the idea a “non-starter” and Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Haig disapproved it.