334. Telegram 59655 From the Department of State to the Embassy in France

Summary: The Department forwarded a letter from Kissinger to Sauvagnargues on the proposed sale of a French reprocessing plant to Pakistan.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, 1976. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent immediate for information to Ottawa, Bonn, Islamabad, and Tehran. Drafted by Jan Kalicki in S/P; cleared by Passage, Ortiz, Bartholomew, Vest, EUR, NEA/PAB, OES, H, and EA (in substance); and approved by Sonnenfeldt. In his March 16 reply to Kissinger, Sauvagnargues argued that the proposed sale was in keeping with the principles that emerged from the 1975 London nuclear suppliers meetings and he thus saw “no reasons not to sign the requisite agreements on the scheduled dates—that is, this week.” Sauvagnargues noted that France had kept the U.S. informed about its negotiations with Pakistan and that the U.S. had had almost a year to discuss the issue with Pakistan; moreover, France had actively contributed to the success of the London meetings. “This campaign against our nuclear exports,” Sauvagnargues concluded, “seems to us tendentious.” (Ibid., Records of the Office of the Counselor, Helmut C. Sonnenfeldt, 1955–1977, Entry 5339, Box 9, POL 2 France)

335. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Rumsfeld and Kissinger discussed LOC, NATO, and France.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 18. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Oval Office.

336. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to President Ford

Summary: Rumsfeld urged a review of the U.S.-French nuclear cooperation program.

Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 60, NSDM 299—Cooperation with France (2). Top Secret. Attached but not published is an undated paper on “Cooperation with France: Missile Assistance, Nuclear Safety, and Underground Testing.” During a May 17 meeting with Ford and Scowcroft, Kissinger characterized Rumsfeld’s memorandum as “a cover-your-ass operation. I think you should have the review—principals only—to protect yourself, but you are pretty well committed to the policy at Martinique.” Ford replied, “I made my decision at that time and it is right.” Scowcroft noted Rumsfeld’s suggestion that Ford not tell Giscard “about the nuclear materials test pending the review.” Ford responded, “No, I will go ahead on that. Then we can look at future cooperation with them in connection with leverage, etc.” (Memorandum of conversation, May 17; ibid., National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 19) In a June 24 memorandum to Rumsfeld, Scowcroft agreed to an interagency review of U.S.-French nuclear cooperation; pending the review’s completion and Presidential review, NSDM 299 and Ford’s June 23, 1975 memorandum to Schlesinger would still apply. (Ibid., NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 60, NSDM 299—Cooperation with France (2))

337. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to President Ford

Summary: Kissinger discussed the request for a license to export the CDC–7600 computer to France.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Helmut C. Sonnenfeldt, 1955–1977, Entry 5339, Box 14, Unfiled material. Top Secret; Nodis. Kissinger did not initial the memorandum, which was forwarded to him under cover of an April 19 memorandum from Sonnenfeldt; a notation on Sonnenfeldt’s memorandum indicates that Kissinger signed the memorandum to Ford on May 15. Ford did not indicate his preferences regarding Kissinger’s recommendations; see, however, Document 338.

338. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Ford, Giscard, and Kissinger, discussed European Communists, North-South relations, Africa, a follow-up to the November 1975 Economic Summit at Rambouillet, and nuclear issues.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 19. Secret; Sensitive. All brackets are in the original. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. Giscard made a state visit to the United States from May 17 to 20.

339. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Ford, Giscard, Kissinger, and Sauvagnargues discussed a follow-up to the November 1975 Economic Summit at Rambouillet, Lebanon, Djibouti, and nuclear non-proliferation.

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 19. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. For the portion of the meeting dealing with a follow-up to the November 1975 Economic Summit at Rambouillet, see Document 138 in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, 1973–1976.

340. Memorandum From the Counselor (Sonnenfeldt) to Secretary of State Kissinger

[Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Helmut C. Sonnenfeldt, 1955–1977, Entry 5339, Box 4, France 1976. Secret; Sensitive. 2 pages not declassified.]

341. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McAuliffe) to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld

Summary: McAuliffe discussed the review of the U.S.-French nuclear cooperation program.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0059, France 471.61, 1975. Top Secret. In a November 2 memorandum, Rumsfeld drew Scowcroft’s attention to the fact the review was still pending; he also noted that DOD could not “proceed beyond the scope and deliberate pace which we are now following” until the review was complete. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 13, France—Nuclear Matters (6) (11/20/75–12/2/76)) No final version of the review was found.

342. Memorandum of Conversation

Summary: Kissinger and De Guiringaud discussed Djibouti, a submarine device, and nuclear non-proliferation.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Entry 5403, Box 19, NODIS Memcons, Dec. 1976. Secret; Sensitive. All brackets are in the original. The meeting took place in the Ambassador’s Residence. An unknown hand wrote “no—the senior staff.” in the margin beside Kissinger’s statement: “The last time I spoke to Bhutto alone, but the maniacs [the press corps] on my plane asked me about the Symington amendment.” Attached but not published are De Guiringaud’s and Kissinger’s remarks to the press.

343. Telegram 10323 From the Department of State to the Embassy in France

Summary: The Department forwarded a letter from Kissinger to De Guiringaud concerning nuclear non-proliferation.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Policy Planning Council, Policy Planning Staff, Director’s Files (Winston Lord), 1969–1977, Entry 5027, Box 367, WL Sensitive/Non-China Jan ’77. Secret; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Jan Kalicki in S/P and Leon Fuerth in C; cleared by Robinson, Lord, Sonnenfeldt, and Sebastian; and approved by Kissinger.