Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973–1976

62. Memorandum for the President’s File Prepared by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, August 9, 1974.

SUBJECT

• Meeting with NATO Ambassadors and Chargés d’Affaires Friday, August 9, 1974, 2:00 p.m.—The Roosevelt Room, The White House

PARTICIPANTS

• Mr. Herman Dehennin (Belgium)
• His Excellency Marcel Cadieux (Canada)
• His Excellency Evvind Bartels (Denmark)
• Mr. Francois de La Gorce (France)
• Mr. Hans H. Noebel (Federal Republic of Germany)
• His Excellency Dr. Constantine P. Panayotacos (Greece)
• Mr. Thorsteinn Ingolfsson (Iceland)
• Mr. Giulio Tamagnini (Italy)
• Baron Albrecht N. Van Aerssen (Netherlands)
• Mr. Harald Svanoe Midttun (Norway)
• Mr. Pedro Alves Machado (Portugal)
• His Excellency Melih Esenbel (Turkey)
• His Excellency The Honorable Sir Peter Ramsbotham (UK)
• The President
• Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
• Helmut Sonnenfeldt, Counselor, Department of State
• Wells Stabler, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
• A. Denis Clift, NSC Senior Staff

In his opening remarks, Secretary Kissinger informed the NATO Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires in attendance that the meeting was being held in the White House to permit the President to stop by for a few minutes to meet with the Ambassadors. Secretary Kissinger said he would continue to serve both as Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. He noted that those in attendance had been serving in the United States during a difficult and tragic period in America’s history. However, he went on to say that the content of US foreign policy had not been impaired by the domestic problems which President Nixon had faced. United States foreign policy he said has bipartisan support, and for this reason the continuity of our foreign policy is assured.

Secretary Kissinger said that he had had a long talk with President Ford on August 8 and from that conversation he could repeat to the Ambassadors that the main lines of the American foreign policy will continue. The United States’ commitment to NATO, he said, continues to be a strong and fundamental part of our foreign policy—symbolized by the fact that the NATO Ambassadors are the first group to be received at the White House in the new Administration.

Secretary Kissinger said that the President would be sending letters to each head of government in the NATO countries and that he would also be writing the foreign ministers. The United States he said wants to continue business without any interruptions and business should be conducted as always—even our quarrels, he said, can continue with the usual vigor.

In all seriousness, Secretary Kissinger said, the United States believes it important for the West to emphasize its unity at this time. He added that that should be easy since we have no major quarrels. (He noted some of our allies are doing fairly well without us, but said, in this connection, that the U.S. has expressed its appreciation to the UK Government and the other parties for their handling of the situation in Cyprus.)

Looking at the current items on the US-European agenda, Secretary Kissinger said with regard to CSCE that our consultations are proceeding satisfactorily. On MBFR we should soon have occasion to discuss the Allies’ position. On SALT, the United States is developing a new approach for the strategic arms talks in Geneva. As soon as this internal work is completed we will be consulting with the NATO Allies on our position. He said that on matters of importance to Europe such as FBS, the Europeans need not be concerned.

Secretary Kissinger again noted that the President would be writing all NATO members and that he also would be in correspondence with his NATO counterparts. More generally he said, through meetings with groups such as this, through additional meetings at the State Department and through meetings by U.S. Ambassadors in foreign capitals, the Administration would be reviewing the basic lines of U.S. foreign policy with all countries with which we have diplomatic relations. He added, that with those countries with whom we are experiencing recalcitrance, we will be telling them that now is not a good time to test U.S. intentions, that if they do so we will have, in fact, to overreact.

Ambassador Cadieux noted that correspondents based in Washington would be asking the Ambassadors questions about the substance of this meeting. Secretary Kissinger said that the Ambassadors’ should feel free to repeat what he had told them: that U.S. foreign policy will continue, that NATO will continue as a primary instrument of that foreign policy, that the strength of Atlantic ties will continue and that the process of consultations will grow. He added that the Ambassadors could also point out—and that even if they did not do so, the U.S. Government would point out—that the NATO countries had intentionally been selected for this first meeting. Ambassador Cadieux said, speaking for Canada, he thanked the United States for this initiative and extended Canada’s very best wishes to the new President.

Sir Peter Ramsbotham associated himself with Ambassador Cadieux’s statement and informed Secretary Kissinger that the British Prime Minister was sending the President a message wishing him well and drawing attention to the major problems before the West. Sir Peter thanked Secretary Kissinger for having called this meeting, noting that it is both symbolic and very much appreciated.

Secretary Kissinger said that he has known the President for a long time, noting that the President some years before had been a participant in one of his seminars. The Secretary said the only former student of his giving him difficulty is the Prime Minister of Turkey. The Ambassador of Turkey said that his Prime Minister hoped that the Secretary’s interest would continue. The Secretary said that yes, his interest would continue, adding that all U.S. policies will be continued for better or for worse.

Ambassador Bartels noted the Secretary’s earlier statement on SALT and asked if the Secretary’s visit to Moscow would be postponed. Secretary Kissinger said that it depends on when one expected the visit to take place. Early September has been abandoned, he said, and his present plans are to make the visit in the second half of October. Secretary Kissinger added that the U.S. will resume talks with the Soviets in Geneva around September 10th. We do not expect that the first phase of these talks will be conclusive. If, he said, it appears progress is possible he will go to Moscow in the second half of October, and then we will know if progress is possible.

Secretary Kissinger asked the British Ambassador if he had interrupted his vacation to return to Washington today. The Ambassador said that he had, noting that he had been the guest of Dillon Ripley. The Secretary asked the same question of Ambassador Cadieux who replied that he had been back in Washington for a couple of weeks following his vacation. Mr. Sonnenfeldt noted that Canada now had a new foreign minister—Allan MacEachen. Ambassador Cadieux confirmed this. The Secretary observed that, in terms of tenure, he was about to become the Dean of the NATO Ministers.

The Norwegian Chargé d’Affaires informed the Secretary that his Prime Minister had made a statement to the effect that the events in Washington are a sign of the strength of American democracy, and that the Prime Minister had expressed his pleasure that Secretary of State was staying in office. In response to a question about his own vacation plans, the Secretary said that he did not have any in mind, that he had to be in Washington for the transition period. He added that this was the third transition he had seen in the White House.

The Norwegian Chargé asked if the new U.S. President would be as active in foreign policy as the former President. Secretary Kissinger said that in his experience with Presidents one never knows until they are actually at work in office what their practices will be. He observed that President Ford would probably be more interested in domestic issues than was President Nixon, but he added that the new President is very definitely an internationalist. The Norwegian Chargé asked if the President has any travel plans. The Secretary said the President would not travel at least until after the November elections. He added that the President would be raising the matter of meetings in his correspondence with foreign leaders.

The President entered the meeting at 2:20 p.m. and was introduced to the NATO representatives in attendance, each of whom extended the best wishes of their countries to the President. The Secretary advised the President that on his behalf, he had informed the NATO Ambassadors that it was the President’s wish that they be the first group to meet with him at the White House. The Secretary also noted that he had underlined the continuity of U.S. foreign policy.

The President thanked the Secretary. He welcomed the Ambassadors and expressed his pleasure at meeting with them. He said he looked forward to working with the Secretary of State on continuing the policy which he had known since he came to the Congress in 1949. It is important, the President said, to have a strong alliance with NATO and Western Europe. And, he said, we have a continuing policy that has paid big dividends. The President noted that there had been some US-European problems but added that he has been impressed by the headway made in the last few months. With regard to current specific issues in US-European relations, he said he would be reviewing the entire agenda with Secretary Kissinger in the near future. In concluding his remarks, the President, speaking to each NATO Government through the Ambassadors in attendance, said that the United States is proud of the US-European relationship, and he asked the Ambassadors to extend his best wishes to their heads of government.

At 2:25 p.m. the Press Corps was admitted to take photographs. At 2:27 p.m., following the departure of the Press, the President excused himself and left the meeting.

Secretary Kissinger informed the Ambassadors that he covered the points that needed to be covered. He said the U.S. Government is available for normal business and that we will continue such business. The Ambassadors again expressed their thanks for the meeting and the meeting then adjourned at 2:28 p.m.

1. Summary: Kissinger recorded a meeting with the NATO Ambassadors.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Agency Files, Box 13, NATO, 8/12/74–9/30/74. Confidential. Kissinger did not initial the memorandum. On August 9, Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency and was succeeded by Gerald Ford.