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

327. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, January 29, 1975, 9:28–10:25 a.m.

PARTICIPANTS

• President Ford
• Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
• Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to U.S.-French missile cooperation.]

Kissinger: [Omitted here is additional discussion unrelated to U.S.-French missile cooperation.]

The French sent someone here to talk about nuclear cooperation. If we do it, I have to talk to Schlesinger about pacing it carefully. There is no way to guarantee in this climate that it won’t get out. Some we can do; warhead guidance is difficult. We could save that to last. You will have to deal with the Brits. The French don’t want the British to know. Since it is not finalized, you are right for the Wilson visit, but at the same time you must decide what to tell them.

The President: How long will this take?

Kissinger: It depends on how well we can control Schlesinger. But we want to get something for it.

The President: Absolutely. We want help on energy cooperation.

Kissinger: They want help on MRV guidance. They are not going MIRV. They gave us a 5-page list.

The President: As long as we stay away from warheads we are okay with the British?

Kissinger: You can tell them we have talked to them about hardening and command and control security.

The President: It is okay if we do it slowly.

[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to U.S.-French missile cooperation.]

1. Summary: Ford and Kissinger discussed U.S.-French nuclear cooperation.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 8. Secret; Nodis. In a January 28 memorandum to Kissinger, Sonnenfeldt discussed the status of U.S.-French nuclear cooperation. (National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Helmut C. Sonnenfeldt, 1955–1977, Entry 5339, Box 14, Unfiled material) On February 8, Kissinger and Schlesinger discussed U.S.-French nuclear cooperation, Kissinger asserting, “We have to dribble this out so we look forthcoming but maintain control and leverage.” Schlesinger agreed to the resumption of cooperation, noting that while warhead discussions raised legal problems, “aside from that we can have a low-key relationship.” At Kissinger’s request, Schlesinger agreed to “space it out at least over a year” and that all French requests should be sent first to the NSC. (Memorandum of conversation, February 8; Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 9)