Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXII, Southeast Asia and the Pacific

271. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, February 27, 1980, 12:15–12:30 p.m.

SUBJECT

• Summary of the President’s Meeting with The ANZUS Ministers

PARTICIPANTS

• President Jimmy Carter
• Cyrus Vance, Secretary of State
• Zbigniew Brzezinski, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
• Richard Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
• Donald Gregg, NSC Staff Member
• Andrew Peacock, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Denis James Killen, Australian Minister for Defense
• Brian E. Talboys, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

As the President walked into the Cabinet room, Secretary Vance said that a “marvelous” ANZUS meeting had just been completed.² Vance added that it had been a great accommodation to have had the meeting held here in Washington, instead of in New Zealand at a later date. (U)

The President agreed, and said that it was very important to have held the meeting now. He thanked the ANZUS ministers for their cooperation. The President added that he viewed US relations with Australia and New Zealand as highly valuable. He added that it was reassuring, at a time of challenge, to have close friends with whom such close consultations could be held. The President said that the ANZUS partnership could not be stronger, and that he is personally grateful for what ANZUS has been in the past and for what it will be in the future. Both Minister Peacock and Secretary Vance noted that the ANZUS forum was completely open and candid. Minister Talboys commented that the meetings were like an extension of departmental talks. Talboys said he greatly appreciated the feeling of being consulted. (C)

The President noted that he wished that the US had this same sort of easy relationship with its European allies. He noted that the Europeans were constantly complaining that they had not been told enough, or consulted fully. (C)

Talboys commented that there is a very strong connection between international events and domestic affairs that limits the freedom of action internationally. The President agreed with this, and said that the US must try to have a clearer understanding of our allies’ domestic problems. (C)

Minister Peacock then turned to the issue of the Olympics, saying that we “must go to the limit” in making the boycott stand up. (C)

The President agreed.

Secretary Vance said that recent intelligence indicated that the Olympics were of even greater concern to the Soviets than the grain embargo. (C)

The President said that the Olympics are a key issue. He said that the US would not go to Moscow, and that it would plan to have alternative games held. He added that if the US holds firm, other countries will join in the boycott. The President then said that it was important to let the rest of the world know as soon as possible that there would be alternative games. All were in agreement that the sooner this is done, the better. Minister Peacock was particularly strong on this point. (C)

Dr. Brzezinski said that current thinking favored dates in late August, and four or five separate sites for the alternative games. (C)

Secretary Vance said that Canada was a natural place, having recently held the Olympics in Montreal and the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. (C)

The President said that he would personally attend the alternative games, particularly if part of them were to be held at a site like Canada. He said that the importance of the Olympics to the Soviets is very high, and that we must announce the alternative games soon, so that support for them, which is now high in this country, will not dissipate. (C)

The meeting ended at this point, with the President thanking all concerned for having held the ANZUS meeting at this time. (C)

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 38, Memcons: President, 2/1980. Confidential. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room at the White House.
2. The memorandum of conversation of the first session of the ANZUS Council meeting, February 26, is in the Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 330–86–0054, 1, ANZUS Council Meeting: 1980—Washington. For the joint press conference held on February 27 and the joint communiqué issued that day, see Department of State Bulletin, April 1980, pp. 53–58.