United Nations Affairs


31. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, September 26, 1975, 11:30 a.m.–noon.

Ford, Kissinger, and Colombian President Lopez discussed the new United States strategy to counter opposition at the United Nations.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 15, September 26, 1975—Ford, Kissinger, Colombian President Alfonso Lopez Michelsen. Secret; Nodis. The meeting was held in the Oval Office.


32. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to All Regional Assistant Secretaries, Washington, October 16, 1975.

Kissinger indicated that institutional and operational changes were necessary to ensure proper treatment of multilateral issues in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy.

Source: Library of Congress, Moynihan Papers, Part 1, Box 337, Kissinger, Henry A. (1). Secret. Lord and Eagleburger recommended this course of action in Document 30.


33. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Management (Eagleburger) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, November 4, 1975.

Eagleburger updated Kissinger about measures taken to implement Kissinger’s organizing for multilateral diplomacy initiative and recommended further actions.

Source: Department of State, M Files: Lot 79 D 63, International Organizations, 1974–75. Confidential. Cleared by Buffum. Kissinger did not initial his approval or disapproval of the recommendations. Tab 1, attached but not published, consists of memoranda to Eagleburger from Rogers dated October 29, from Habib dated October 27, from Davis dated October 29, from Hartman dated October 24, and from Atherton dated October 27, offering comments on strengthening multilateral diplomacy. Tab 2 as sent is published as Document 35. Tab 3, attached but not published, is an October 24 memorandum from Buffum to Eagleburger, recommending organizational and personnel measures to enhance realization of the multilateral diplomacy initiative. W. Beverly (Bev) Carter had left his post as Ambassador to Tanzania on October 14.


34. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Management (Eagleburger) to All Regional Assistant Secretaries, Washington, December 29, 1975.

Eagleburger instructed the regional Assistant Secretaries to take measures to implement Kissinger’s organizing for multilateral diplomacy initiative.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P770115–0154. Confidential. The enclosure was not found. In their September 24 memorandum to Kissinger (Document 30), Eagleburger and Lord recommended that these measures be adopted. Eagleburger’s memorandum to Kissinger informing him of the results of his October meeting with regional Assistant Secretaries is Document 33.


35. Telegram 303856 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, December 29, 1975, 2324Z.

Kissinger informed Ambassadors about organizational changes designed to enhance the Department’s capability to address multilateral diplomacy and instructed them to give personal attention to the issue.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Drafted by Spotts; cleared by Eagleburger, Ortiz, Lewis, and Laise; and approved by Kissinger. The telegram encompasses many of the suggestions made by Eagleburger and Lord in their September 24 memorandum to Kissinger (Document 30).


36. Telegram 3652 From the Department of State to All African Diplomatic Posts, January 7, 1976, 2128Z.

The Department communicated Moynihan’s views about African participation and unity at the 30th United Nations General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Drafted by Tefft; cleared by Whiting and in NEA; and approved by Baker. Also sent to Algiers, Cairo, Rabat, Tripoli, and Tunis. Repeated to USUN. This telegram repeated telegram 7000 from USUN, December 31, 1975. (ibid.) The OAU met in Kampala, Uganda, July 18–August 2. The Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries met in Lima, Peru, August 25–30. Responsibility for relations with Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya was transferred from AF to NEA in March 1974.


37. Telegram 15113 From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Posts, January 21, 1976, 1737Z.

The Department communicated Moynihan’s views about European participation in the 30th United Nations General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Drafted by Trevithick and approved by Lynch. Sent to Ankara, Athens, Bonn, Brussels, Copenhagen, Canberra, Dublin, Helsinki, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Oslo, Ottawa, Paris, Reykjavik, Rome, Stockholm, Tokyo, the Hague, Valletta, Vienna, Wellington, the Mission to the U.N. in Geneva, and the Mission to NATO. Repeated to Nairobi and the Mission to the IAEA in Vienna. This message repeated telegram 134 from USUN, January 16.


38. Telegram 20335 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, January 27, 1976, 2139Z.

Moynihan claimed that the more assertive U.S. policy at the United Nations had met with success.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Noforn. Drafted and approved by Lewis. This message repeated telegram 243 from USUN, January 23. The Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries met in Lima, Peru, August 25–30, 1975. The article referred to, authored by Leslie H. Gelb, is published in The New York Times, January 9, 1976, pp. 1, 5. Abdulrahim Farah was U.N. Assistant Secretary General for Technical Cooperation. Clarence Mitchell, U.S. Delegate to the U.N. General Assembly, was Washington Office Director for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.


39. Telegram 37592 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, February 15, 1976, 0341Z.

The Department responded to queries from posts about inserting multilateral issues more regularly into bilateral diplomacy.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret. Drafted by Washburn and Baker; cleared in draft in EUR, NEA, EA, ARA, AF, and AID; paragraph 6 cleared in substance in H; and approved by Lewis. Repeated to Montreal for the Representative to ICAO and to Rome for the Representative to FAO. Telegram 303856 is published as Document 35.


40. Telegram 605 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, February 18, 1976, 2117Z.

The Mission transmitted an assessment of Soviet actions and attitudes at the 30th United Nations General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Repeated to Algiers, Belgrade, Berlin, Bonn, Bucharest, Budapest, London, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Rabat, Sofia, Tokyo, Warsaw, Beijing, the Mission to NATO, and the Mission to the U.N. in Geneva.


41. Memorandum From Hal Horan of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, February 26, 1976.

Horan provided background information for Scowcroft’s impending discussion with United Nations Ambassador-designate Scranton.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Agency Files, Box 19, USUN 1/1/76–5/20/76. Confidential. Sent for information. Scowcroft initialed the memorandum and wrote “Thanks” at the top of the first page. Kissinger’s speech to the Seventh Special Session is published in Department of State Bulletin, September 22, 1975, pp. 425–441.


42. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Lewis) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, March 3, 1976.

Lewis presented strategies for promoting multilateral diplomacy initiatives at the United Nations during 1976.

Source: Department of State, IO/UNP Files: Lot 93 D 191, UN Institutional Problems 1974–75. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Neidle and Lewis on March 2. Sent through Sisco and Robinson. A memorandum from Lewis to Kissinger, dated February 14, outlining approaches for reducing bloc voting at the U.N. detrimental to U.S. interests, is attached but not published. Kissinger’s September 22 address to the 30th United Nations General Assembly is published in Department of State Bulletin, October 13, 1975, pp. 545–553.


43. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Lewis) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, April 15, 1976.

Lewis examined the increasing role played by the United Nations Security Council in international dispute resolution and management.

Source: Department of State, IO/UNP Files: Lot 93 D 191, UN Institutional Problems 1974–75. Confidential; Exdis. Drafted by Neidle on April 15.


44. Telegram 115833 From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Posts, May 11, 1976, 2357Z.

The Department instructed posts in non-aligned movement countries to communicate U.S. positions on key issues to host governments.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Baker; cleared by McNutt, Semakis, Monsma, Whiting, Blaney (in substance), and Zimmerman (in substance); and approved by Lewis. Telegrams 303856 and 37592 are published as Documents 35 and 39, respectively.


45. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, June 4, 1976, 3 p.m.

Kissinger and Scranton discussed Scranton’s impending trip to African countries and issues likely to arise in U.N. meetings.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P820043–1943. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Helman on June 7. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office. Scranton undertook a three-week trip to eleven African nations beginning June 12.


46. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, July 8, 1976.

Scowcroft informed Ford of issues likely to be discussed at an upcoming meeting with Scranton.

Source: Ford Library, Connor Files, Box 3, USUN, William W. Scranton. Confidential. A memorandum of conversation of the July 8 meeting, which deals primarily with African issues, is ibid., National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 20, July 8, 1976—Ford, Ambassador William Scranton (UN).


47. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, August 30, 1976.

Scowcroft informed Ford of issues likely to be discussed at an upcoming meeting with Scranton.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Agency Files, Box 19, USUN 8/1/76–12/14/76. Confidential. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “The President has seen.”


48. Telegram 220772 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, September 6, 1976, 1933Z.

The Department requested that posts communicate U.S. positions on multiple issues likely to arise at the 31st United Nations General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Kriebel and Speh; cleared in draft by Whiting, Blaney, Monsma, McNutt, Zimmerman, Perry, and in AF, EB/ORF/ISM, and PM/ISO; and approved by Toussaint. Repeated to USUN, the Mission to the EC in Brussels, the Mission to NATO, Beijing, and the Mission to the OECD in Paris. Kissinger’s April 27 Lusaka speech is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XXXVIII, Foundations and Organization of Foreign Policy, 1973–1976. Kissinger’s August 2 speech in Boston is published in Department of State Bulletin, August 23, 1976, pp. 257–265. Kissinger’s August 31 comments in Philadelphia are published ibid., September 20, 1976, pp. 358–372.


49. Telegram 220773 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, September 6, 1976, 1936Z.

The Department informed posts of U.S. positions on key political issues scheduled to be discussed at the 31st United Nations General Assembly, including Korea, Puerto Rico, the Middle East, and the Panama Canal.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Kriebel and Speh; cleared in draft by Monsma, Whiting, McNutt, Zimmerman, Perry, and in NEA/IAI, ARA/CAR, and ARA/PAN; and approved by Toussaint. Repeated to Beijing, USUN, the Mission to the EC in Brussels, the Mission to the OECD in Paris, and the Mission to NATO. Kissinger’s July 22 speech in Seattle is published in Department of State Bulletin, August 16, 1976, pp. 217–226.


50. Briefing Paper Prepared in the Department of State, Washington, undated.

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs presented an overview of U.N.-related issues facing the incoming Carter administration.

Source: National Archives, IO/UNP Files: Lot 93 D 191, U.N. Institutional Problems—1974–75. Confidential. “Transition” is typed at the top of the first page. Internal evidence indicates this document was written after the November 2 election, between November 3 and November 29. The Case Amendment to the 1974 Foreign Assistance Act cut off funding for UNESCO until the President certified to Congress that UNESCO had “adopted policies which are fully consistent with its educational, scientific, and cultural objectives” and “taken concrete steps to correct its recent actions of a primarily political character.”


51. Memorandum From Robert S. Smith and David Lazar of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Hyland), Washington, November 29, 1976.

Smith and Lazar explained to Hyland the difficulties encountered owing to the fact that “third world” issues were not represented within the foreign policy bureaucratic structure.

Source: Ford Library, Presidential Files of NSC Logged Documents, Box 47, 7606314. Confidential. Sent for information.


52. Telegram 313877 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, December 30, 1976, 2258Z.

The Department reviewed the principal accomplishments of the 31st United Nations General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Drafted by Washburn; cleared in draft by Luers, Martens, and Perry, and in AF and EUR; and approved by Lewis. For Kissinger’s September 30 address to the U.N. General Assembly, see Department of State Bulletin, October 25, 1976, pp. 497–510. Simeon Ake of Cote d’Ivoire was ECOSOC President in 1976.