213. Memorandum of Conversation1
PARTICIPANTS
- President Ford
- Juan Carlos I, King of Spain
- Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
- Jose Maria de Areilza y Martinez-Rodas, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
SUBJECTS
- Lebanon; Spain; Italy; Portugal
Areilza: I just heard your speech on television. It is being broadcast in Spain right now. The ceremony was beautiful.
President: We were very lucky about the weather. We have had to move a couple of them indoors. With the Emperor of Japan it rained right up to the moment of the ceremony.
Areilza: We are very pleased you can come to the Embassy tomorrow, as busy as you are. But you look very relaxed.
President: I am used to it. [They discussed the delegate situation.] We are very pleased to have you here with us.
Juan Carlos: We are delighted to be here.
President: We have been looking forward to it for a long time. We are sorry the Treaty is not completed, but it is not for any substantive problem.
Juan Carlos: The Foreign Minister told me it is only procedural.
President: And you will get a warm reception on the Hill.
Juan Carlos: I know it is an honor not given to many and I am very appreciative.
[Typeset Page 698]Lebanon
On substance, how do you see this latest move of Syria in the Middle East?
President: We would prefer that there be no intervention. But this does seem limited, and if it does facilitate the transfer of authority, it might be helpful.
Kissinger: We had no advance notice of it. But it doesn’t look massive and as the President says, there is no central authority, so any one group can start the fighting all over again.
Areilza: Brezhnev is there, isn’t he?
Kissinger: No, Kosygin. He was in Iraq yesterday and in Syria today. They would like to bring the two together.
President: It is a terrible tragedy there—over 30,000 killed. Anything which can be done to modify that would be helpful.
Spain
I would be very interested in hearing about developments in Spain since you came to power.
Juan Carlos: All the political groupings didn’t want any abrupt change, so it has gone slowly but smoothly. I think it could have gone a little faster, but it is moving. We have had some troubled times—last February, for example. And the press has not been helpful.
President: It never is.
Juan Carlos: We have over 150 mini-political groups. We are telling them they must get together. We are having the national elections before the municipalities. That was a mistake my grandfather made in 1931. They will be this fall and the municipalities next spring.
President: We have been pleased to see the progress you have made. As you know, we have taken a strong position that Spain must be reintegrated into Europe. You know the stand I took last May at NATO. We feel some progress is being made.
Areilza: Yes. Secretary-General Luns and General Haig have said they would let some Spanish observers in NATO organizations.
Juan Carlos: And then we are starting talks with the Nine.
Areilza: All the Europeans are interested in the political progress we have made. We hope to begin negotiations for full entry into the Common Market—but that will take years.
Kissinger: The Dutch will give you problems.
Areilza: They weren’t too bad.
Kissinger: The Foreign Minister is okay but the Prime Minister isn’t.
Juan Carlos: The Swedes aren’t very friendly—Palme.
[Typeset Page 699]Kissinger: But they are not in the Economic Community.
Italy
Areilza: What about the Italian elections?
President: We are slightly optimistic but only very cautiously so.
Kissinger: It will be difficult whatever the feasible outcome. A new government will be hard to form.
President: It is good to see that the Pope has spoken out. Does that go right down to the parish?
Kissinger: It is stronger in Italy than in Spain. But about one third of the clergy has separated itself. It is a disaster in Holland, but about one third in Italy.
Areilza: But the Pope’s word gets right down to the parish in Italy. It will have a good effect.
Portugal
President: What about the situation in Portugal?
Juan Carlos: We think Eanes will do all right.
President: Is Carvalho a threat?
Juan Carlos: No, not really. We are still worried about Portugal, but we think it will come out all right.
President: It should be a good lesson for your people—all the chaos over a year ago.
Spain
Kissinger: Are you seeing George Meany?
Juan Carlos: Yes. That should be very helpful. He is anti-Communist, and that is our problem in the unions.
President: How about your economy?
Juan Carlos: We still have too much inflation.
President: [Described our inflation statistics, employment, sales and trade.]
Areilza: Is your recession over?
President: Definitely. Unless the Congress does something, we think we are on the way to a long-term stable progress. The OPEC decision [not to raise oil prices] was very helpful.
Juan Carlos: That was a blessing.
Kissinger: We worked very closely with the Saudis over it. They told us we could even announce it.
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Summary: Ford, Kissinger, Juan Carlos, and Areilza discussed Lebanon, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 19. Secret; Nodis. All brackets are in the original. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. Juan Carlos paid an official visit to Washington from June 1 to 4. On June 2, Kissinger briefed Ford on his forthcoming meeting with Juan Carlos and Areilza: “There is a difference between the King and the Foreign Minister. [1 line not declassified] The Foreign Minister sees the King as a constitutional monarch. The King sees himself as Giscard. Everyone is pressing Spain to move fast. Spain has fluctuated between authoritarianism and anarchy. There is no democratic tradition. They need time to develop the center. I would treat the King as if he had the authority, even though it might make the Foreign Minister restive. I would ask him his plans, but suggest he move fast enough to keep the pressure under control but not so fast to get out of control.” (Memorandum of conversation, June 2; ibid.)
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