Office of the Historian

132. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

Washington, January 29, 1977

1. Rhodesia: Peter Ramsbotham came in this morning to express his government’s appreciation for the early and helpful reception which you gave him.2 Ramsbotham also asked that we maintain our pressure on Smith. He reported that experts in London are studying alternative approaches to relaunch the Rhodesian negotiations. The British wel [Page 365] come consultations with us, perhaps as early as the end of next week.3 We are urging the British to move their review forward quickly and will meet them as soon as they are ready. I will address the Rhodesian problem on Monday in my press conference and will announce our support for a repeal of the Byrd Amendment.4

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Rhodesia.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Subject File, Box 37, State Department Evening Reports, 1–2/77. No classification marking. Carter initialed the memorandum and wrote at the top of the first page: “To Cy.”↩
  2. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Carter met with Ramsbotham, Vance, and Brzezinski from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m. in the Oval Office. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials)↩
  3. Carter wrote “ok” in the right-hand margin next to this sentence.↩
  4. Carter wrote “ok” in the right-hand margin next to this sentence. Vance reported the administration’s position on the Rhodesian negotiations during a January 31 press conference. The position included continued support for the British proposal, opposition to the “internal solution,” and an effort to repeal the Byrd Amendment. For the text of the press conference, see Department of State Bulletin, February 21, 1977, p. 137.↩