Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973–1976

124. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rogers) to Secretary of State Kissinger¹

Washington, December 24, 1975.

Response to Brazilian Foreign Minister Silveira’s Suggestions for a New Bilateral Mechanism

The Problem

Now that you have approved the recommendations forwarded in my memo of October 31 regarding a new bilateral mechanism with Brazil, and have, in Paris, again expressed to Brazilian Foreign Minister Silveira your agreement to move forward on such a mechanism, you should respond to Silveira’s letter of October 16 on this subject.

Background

As agreed during your bilateral meetings with Silveira in September, he sent you on October 16 his suggestions with respect to a new mechanism to formalize bilateral exchanges at the policy level (Tab 2). Silveira’s thoughts on the type of mechanism are generally consistent with the outline you approved in my memorandum of October 31 (Tab 3).

In his letter, however, Silveira went beyond the delineation of mechanics and addressed the fundamental question of what we can expect from the bilateral relationship. He made the point that the GOB is interested in a process which will result in greater weight being given to Brazil’s views and needs in the formulation of US policies in areas of vital interest to Brazil.

In your October 19 message on the Korea question, you thanked Silveira for his suggestions and told him that you would be back in touch after studying his proposals. Now that we have your approval of a US position, you should respond to the Silveira letter, including some comments on the goals which a more formalized bilateral mechanism can realistically hope to achieve.

Recommendation

That you authorize transmission of the message to Silveira attached at Tab 1.

1. Summary: Rogers summarized Silveira’s vision of a consultative mechanism between the United States and Brazil, and he recommended that Kissinger inform Silveira of his support for the idea of setting up such a mechanism.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P830109–1749. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Eltz on December 23. Attached but not published are Tabs 1–3. Tab 1 is a December 23 draft of the letter transmitted in Document 125. Tab 2 is Silveira’s letter transmitted in Document 123. Kissinger and Silveira were in Paris from December 15–17 for a meeting of the CIEC. Although the Paris Kissinger-Silveira memorandum of conversation has not been found, Rogers briefed Kissinger on the topics that Silveira would probably raise: visits of dignitaries, a UN resolution on Zionism, Angola, the bilateral consultative mechanism, and economic issues. (Telegram 295457 to Brasília, December 17; ibid., D750439–0443) The U.S. Government requested that Brazil oppose a UN proposal to withdraw UN troops from South Korea. (Telegram 248497 to Brasília, October 19; ibid., D750363–0006) Brazil decided to abstain.