604. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1 2
Washington, July 1, 1969
SUBJECT:
- IPC Views on its Problem in Peru
Attached is a brief cable relating the views of IPC and Standard Oil of New Jersey officials on the IPC/Hickenlooper problem in Peru. Their views are interesting, and I thought should be brought to your attention.
These officials stated that:
- a.
- a prolonged deferral of application of Hickenlooper amendment is highly desirable;
- b.
- internal pressures will build and force moderation if sufficient time is allowed;
- c.
- the six months in Hickenlooper is too short for resolution of such a complicated issue, and any deadline is not a useful aspect of the law;
- d.
- they are concerned about finding grounds for the next deferral if the administrative appeal is rejected; and
- e.
- they do not want to go to the Peruvian courts; although they could not take the lead in developing a buy-out scheme by other companies, they would listen to proposals put forward by any group.
- Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 2, Chron File, July 1–21, 1969. Confidential. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. Nixon wrote on the memorandum: “K: Be sure Harlow knows this—so that he can cool off Congressional critics of deferral.” The attachment, telegram 103934 to Lima, June 24, has not been found.↩
- Kissinger summarized the views of officials from IPC and Standard Oil of New Jersey on Peru’s expropriation of IPC. They stated that the 6-month time frame of the Hickenlooper Amendment was too short a time period to resolve such a complicated issue and therefore advocated that the application of the Amendment be deferred.↩