Venezuela
400. Telegram 135826 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile
Summary: As a follow-up to their February 16–17 meetings in Caracas, Kissinger informed Escovar of U.S. policy towards Venezuela in the areas of education, food research, energy, technology transfer, and regional issues.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760214–1014. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted and approved by Glenn. For the February conversations between Kissinger, Pérez, and Escovar, see Document 396.
401. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Kissinger and Escovar discussed inter-American relations, the Niehous kidnapping, international economic affairs, and African politics.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P820118–1601. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Einaudi on January 14, 1977. Kissinger and Escovar were in Santiago for a meeting of the OASGA. The text of Kissinger’s June 8 speech in Santiago on human rights is in the Department of State Bulletin, July 5, 1976, pp. 1–5.
402. Telegram 180174 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Venezuela
Summary: The Department summarized for the Embassy the current status of the positions taken by the Secretary in his February and June meetings with Venezuelan leaders.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760280–0928 Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Sonandres; cleared by Fry, Berry, Boughton, Quigg, Brown, Offenberg, Chaij, and Mahoney; approved by Devine. On July 22, the Embassy informed the Department of progress on the issues taken up by Kissinger in his February and June meetings. (Telegram 8895 from Caracas, July 22; ibid., D760282–0940)
403. Letter From President Ford to Venezuelan President Pérez
Summary: Ford expressed concern that Venezuela might raise petroleum prices at the December OPEC meeting.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, 1974–1977, Box 5, Venezuela, President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Secret. During a November 19 meeting with Iribarren, Ford stressed the heavy damage of an increase in oil prices for the economies of the developing world and urged a deferral of an increase. (Telegram 299311/Tosec 320105 to Caracas, December 9; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840086–2313) In a November 20 letter to Ford, Pérez stated that OPEC was not responsible for world economic problems, that Venezuela’s decisions regarding the price of its oil had been in strict conformity with OPEC’s decisions, and that the organization was developing assistance programs for developing countries. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, 1974–1977, Box 5, Venezuela, President Carlos Andrés Pérez)
404. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Ford and Iribarren discussed the effects of higher oil prices on the world economy, and Ford urged Venezuela to delay an increase in the price of oil.
Source: Ford Library, Memoranda of Conversations, 1974–1977, Box 21, December 1, 1976, Ford, Venezuelan Ambassador Ignacio Iribarren Borges. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. According to the President’s Daily Diary, on November 30, Ford participated in a ceremony to receive diplomatic credentials from Iribarren from 11:15–11:22 a.m. (Ford Library, President’s Daily Diary) No record of the conversation has been found. Scowcroft’s undated briefing memorandum for the President’s December 1 meeting is ibid.
405. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Scowcroft and Owens-Illinois officials discussed the possible nationalization of the company’s holdings in Venezuela and the status of the Niehous kidnapping case.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 21, December 14, 1976, Scowcroft, William Spengler, and John Andrews (Owens-Illinois). Confidential. In telegram 285976 to Caracas, November 22, the Department reported that Director of Andean Affairs Devine had discussed the prospective nationalization of Owens-Illinois with the new Venezuelan Ambassador and had identified the matter as a potential problem in U.S.–Venezuelan relations. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760434–0808) Niehous remained in captivity until June 1979, when he was freed by Venezuelan police. (“Abducted American Freed in Venezuela,” New York Times, July 1, 1979, p. 7)