1. Memorandum of Conversation, San Clemente, February 10, 1973, 10:05–11:30 a.m.

Agnew briefed the President on his recently completed trip to Southeast Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1026, Presidential/HAK Memcons, January–March 1973. Secret. A transcript version of this conversation is ibid. Nixon’s talking points for the meeting, which he received under a February 9 memorandum from Scowcroft, are ibid., Box 952, VIP Visits, Vice-President’s SEA Visit, 1/28–2/10/73 [3 of 3]. Nixon saw a memorandum, February 9, from Agnew, which is the written report of the trip. (Ibid., [2 of 3])

2. National Security Study Memorandum 171, Washington, February 13, 1973.

On behalf of the President, Kissinger ordered a review of U.S. strategy for Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–196, NSSM 171 [1 of 2]. Secret. The undated paper in response to NSSM 171 was organized in five parts: first, an overview of the study; second, the questions raised for presidential decision; third, the issues involved in U.S. force planning for Asia; fourth, possible U.S. deployment postures in Asia for the FY 74–78 period; fifth, uncertainties in Asian trends and their potential force implications. Six issues were raised for presidential decision: first, the role of theater nuclear forces in support of conventional forces; second, maintaining a counterforce capability to reduce the PRC nuclear threat; third, whether the U.S. should encourage the ROK to seek a more balanced capability between its ground, air, and naval forces; fourth, the deployment of Marines on Okinawa; fifth, the deployment of the U.S. Army division in Korea; sixth, long term deployment planning for Asia. The paper is ibid.

3. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, August 1, 1973,

Kissinger recommended that Nixon approve the issuance of a NSDM on military strategy for Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–242, NSDMs, NSDM 230, Folder 2. Top Secret. Sent for action. Nixon initialed all four “approve” options, regarding security assistance, strategy guidance for U.S. forces, U.S. deployment planning, and the issuance of Tab A, the attached NSDM, which when signed became NSDM 230.

4. National Security Decision Memorandum 230, Washington, August 9, 1973.

On behalf of the President, Kissinger issued NSDM 230 providing guidance on future U.S. military planning for Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–242, NSDMs, NSDM 230, Folder 2. Top Secret. Copies were sent to the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

5. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, September 21, 1973, 10:05–11:30 a.m.

Nixon met with Sunthorn and discussed SEATO and Thailand.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 2. Secret; Nodis. The meeting was held in the Oval Office. The President’s Daily Diary indicates that it lasted from 11:38 a.m. until noon. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary) Kissinger’s talking points, September 21, for Nixon’s meeting with Sunthorn are in the National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 278, Agency Files, SEATO.

6. Memorandum From Deputy Secretary of Defense Clements to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger, Washington, September 27, 1973.

Clements reported on his trip to East Asia.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Korea 337, 27 Sep 73. Secret. The memorandum is stamped “Sec Def has seen. 29 Sep 1973.”

7. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, January 15, 1974.

Smyser warned of the likelihood of domestic dissent in numerous Asian countries and of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs’ tendency to meddle in such situations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1338, Unfiled Material, 1974, 5 of 9. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for action. Kissinger did not approve or disapprove any of the recommendations on the last page but, near the top of the first page, Scowcroft wrote, “HAK has seen. Just watch the outgoing traffic carefully.”

8. Letter From President Nixon to Secretary of Agriculture Butz, Washington, June 5, 1974.

Nixon replied to Butz’s report regarding his recent tour of Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 196, Agency Files, Agriculture, 1971–1974, Vol. II (Part 1). No classification marking. Butz’s April 24 letter to Nixon is attached but not published.

9. Minutes of the Acting Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, June 17, 1974, 3 p.m.

John Norton Moore discussed Pacific archipelagos and the Law of the Sea.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 3. Secret.

10. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, July 18, 1974.

Smyser described the situation in Asia.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1338, Unfiled Material, 1974, 5 of 9. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. Near the top of the first page, Kissinger wrote, “Good job. HK.” A handwritten addition, inserted before the last sentence on the final page, indicates that Smyser, in a telephone conversation, asked for the addition of the following sentence: “Our aid people also continually try to take money from Asian programs for other purposes elsewhere.” The earlier message from Smyser to Kissinger, to which Smyser refers, was not found.

11. Minutes of the Acting Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, August 1, 1974, 11:15 a.m.

Kissinger met with the leadership of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 4. Secret. The papers to which Sneider and Hummel refer were not further identified.

12. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 1, 1974, 5 p.m.

Scowcroft met with Sunthorn and discussed Thailand and SEATO.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Agency File, Box 17, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. Confidential. The meeting was held at the White House.

13. Minutes of the Acting Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, May 7, 1975, 8 a.m.

Kissinger and his staff discussed East Asian reactions to the fall of South Vietnam.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 7. Secret. The discussion of East Asian perceptions of U.S. foreign policy was not resumed at the next staff meeting, which occurred on May 9, 1975. (Ibid.)

14. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, May 7, 1975.

Smyser provided options for reconsidering policy toward Asia.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–36, NSSM 226, Review of U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. Solomon and MacDonald concurred in the memorandum. Near the top of the first page, Kissinger wrote, “Agree. HK.” Attached but not published is Tab I, the memorandum to the President recommending NSSMs on Thailand and Korea, which Kissinger drew a line through and wrote, “not necessary.” Also attached but not published is Tab II, the memorandum to the President recommending a NSSM on Asia, which Kissinger drew a line through and wrote, “Not required.” As Smyser recommended, Scowcroft, acting on behalf of Kissinger, signed two NSSMs on May 27. NSSM 225, Document 401, requesting a review of U.S. policy toward Thailand and NSSM 226, Document 268, toward the Korean Peninsula.

15. Minutes of the Acting Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, June 13, 1975, 8–9:05 a.m.

Habib reported on his trip to Asia.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 7. Secret.

16. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to President Ford, Washington, June 13, 1975.

Kissinger gave Ford a report on Habib’s visit to Southeast Asia.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 1, Southeast Asia (3). Confidential; Exdis. Attached and published is Habib’s summary of his trip report. Ford initialed Kissinger’s covering memorandum.

17. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, July 15, 1975.

Smyser wrote a memorandum to Kissinger on the situation in Asia and recommended that the National Security Council staff study a possible Presidential visit to Manila, Jakarta, and Singapore.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 1, Southeast Asia (3). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for action. Kissinger did not approve the recommendation on the last page, but the correspondence profile indicates that on July 16 Kissinger made a decision in response to Smyser’s recommendation. In December 1975, Ford visited Jakarta and Manila but not Singapore. The memorandum from Smyser to Kissinger, which is also discussed in Document 18, was not found.

18. Memorandum From John A. Froebe of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, July 21, 1975.

Froebe recommended that the United States resist an Australian initiative to terminate SEATO.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 1, Australia (5). Secret. Sent for action. Kissinger did not initial a decision; a handwritten notation on the first page of the memorandum reads, “OBE.” At Kissinger’s staff meeting of July 22, Habib said, “The Australians have pulled away from the recommendations to dissolve SEATO.” Kissinger asked, “Would it be so bad for us if SEATO got dissolved, as long as we don’t do it?” Habib replied, “I think it’s important—what the Thais want—because the Thais are the ones that receive—they’re the only members of SEATO that don’t have a mutual security pact with us. And the Thais have indicated that they want very much for it to continue. There may be a halfway step where you keep the Manila Pact, where you don’t have the SEATO organization itself.” (National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, E5177, Box 8)

19. Telegram 196461 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand, August 19, 1975, 1459Z.

The Department offered its views on the dissolution of SEATO.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Niact; Immediate. Repeated to Priority to Canberra, London, Manila, Wellington, and CINCPAC. Drafted by Gallagher; cleared in EA/RA, EA, and S/P; and approved by Sisco. Telegram 4467 from USUN, October 24, stated, “As anticipated, SEATO Council meeting of September 24 resulted in decision to phase out SEATO organization over period of approximately two years. FYI: Philippines made statement for record that both treaty and organization should be phased out together but as result of compromise between Thai and Philippine delegations, Romulo agreed that Philippines would remain silent on the Manila Pact.” (Ibid.)

20. Memorandum From Thomas J. Barnes and Richard Solomon of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, September 11, 1975.

Barnes and Solomon made recommendations on whether Ford should stop in East Asia before or after his trip to China, but Scowcroft responded that there would probably be no other stop.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 18, President’s Trip to the Philippines and Indonesia, December 1975 (2). Secret. Sent for action. The Department of State concurred in the memorandum. None of the recommendations on the last page were approved or disapproved, but, in the top right hand corner of the first page, Scowcroft wrote, “Probably will be no other stop.”

21. Memorandum from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Lord) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, October 16, 1975.

Lord summarized Armacost’s paper on U.S. Strategy in Asia.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–40, NSSM 235, U.S. Interests and Objectives in the Asian-Pacific Region (2 of 2) (11). Secret. In the top right-hand corner of the first page, an unknown hand wrote, “Mike Armacost gave me this thoughtful document.” On October 3, Armacost drafted the attached paper, which is not published.

22. Editorial Note

23. National Security Study Memorandum 235, Washington, January 15, 1976.

On behalf of the President, Scowcroft directed the CIA and the Departments of State and Defense to review U.S. interests and objectives in the Asia-Pacific region in light of military base negotiations with the Philippines.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–39, NSSM 235, U.S. Interests and Objectives in the Asia-Pacific Region (2 of 2) (1). Secret. A copy was also sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On September 2, 1975, Barnes sent a memorandum to Kissinger suggesting a review of U.S. policy toward military bases in the Philippines in anticipation of future negotiations with the Philippine government. On the first page of Barnes’ memorandum, Scowcroft wrote, “HAK wants the review in terms of our entire Pacific posture and interests—not just SEA.” (Ibid., Box H–40, NSSM 235, U.S. Interests and Objectives in the Asia-Pacific Region [2 of 2] [11])

24. Memorandum From Thomas J. Barnes, Richard Solomon, and Clinton Granger of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, June 1, 1976.

Members of the National Security Council staff prepared a memorandum in anticipation of an Senior Review Group meeting on NSSM 235.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–17, Institutional Files, Meetings (IFM), SRG Meeting, NSSM 235, June 4, 1976 (1). Secret. Sent for action. Attached but not published are Tab A, Scowcroft’s undated talking points, and Tab B, the major judgments of the inter-agency review. Tab C refers to the NSSM 235 paper. Section I of the NSSM 235 paper is attached but not published. Section II is ibid., Box H–39, NSSMs, NSSM 235 (1 of 2). Tab F, the proposed NSDM is ibid., H–91, SRG Mtgs., 6/4/76, NSSM 235, Folder 6.

25. Minutes of Senior Review Group Meeting, Washington, June 4, 1976, 3:10–4:08 p.m.

Scowcroft led a discussion of the NSSM 235 study.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–24, Meeting Minutes, SRG, Originals, June 1976. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. The text of Walter’s briefing is ibid., H–91, SRG Meetings, June 4, 1976, NSSM 235, Folder 6. Scowcroft received these minutes under a covering June 28 memorandum from Davis. Michael Hornblow drafted the minutes and showed them to a colleague on the NSC staff (probably Thomas Barnes), who wrote, “My principle reaction is tears at how the meeting went, but I have made only minor adjustments to the disjointed proceedings which I think you caught quite well.” (Ibid.) In lieu of a NSDM, on November 5, Scowcroft sent out a new version of Part I of the NSSM 235 paper to DOS, DOD, and CIA, and noted, “The attached NSSM response as revised is circulated as a useful reference for U.S. interests and objectives in the Asia-Pacific region.” (Ibid., Box H–39, NSSMs, NSSM 235 [1 of 2], Folder 1)