Australia, New Zealand, ANZUS, Papua New Guinea
56. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, May 7, 1975, 3 p.m.
Ford and Whitlam discussed U.S.-Australian relations in the wake of the fall of Saigon.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 11, 5/7/75. Confidential. Drafted by Habib. Ford’s talking points from Kissinger, marked, “The President has seen,” are ibid., Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 1, Australia [3]. Before visiting Ford, Whitlam met with Kissinger at 2 p.m. The memorandum of conversation is available in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P – 820125 – 0398.
57. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, October 9, 1975, 3 p.m.
Kissinger met the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia & Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 15, Kissinger memoranda (6), October–December 1975. Confidential; Nodis. Drafted by Knowles and approved by Covey. The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office at the White House.
58. Telegram 260731 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Australia, November 4, 1975, 1706Z.
The Department of State instructed the Canberra Embassy to deny accusations that the US government had given donations to Australian politicians.
Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated for information to Wellington, Melbourne, Sydney, and CINCPAC. Telegram 7446 from Canberra, November 5, reported that this directive was accomplished.
59. Telegram 8624 From the Embassy in Australia to the Department of State, December 31, 1975, 0601Z.
The embassy outlined Fraser’s views on politico-military relations with the United States.
Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. On November 11, Governor General Sir John Kerr dismissed Whitlam and installed Fraser as interim Prime Minister. Fraser won election on December 13.
60. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, March 17, 1976, 12:45 p.m.
Kissinger and Peacock talked about world affairs over lunch.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P–820117–1629. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Squire and approved by Covey.
61. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, June 8, 1976, 1400.
Killen and Rumsfeld discussed NATO, Diego Garcia, nuclear powered warships, Thailand, Philippine negotiations, Law of the Sea, Australian defense, and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–79–0037, Australia, 333, Memcons (only), 1976, June–September. Confidential. Prepared by Houser and approved by McAuliffe. The conversation took place in Rumsfeld’s office.
62. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 27, 1976, 10:55 a.m.–12:27 p.m.
Ford and Fraser discussed international relations.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 20, 7/27/76. Secret; Nodis.
63. Memorandum From Robert Hormats of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft), Washington, October 14, 1976.
Hormats recommended that Scowcroft intervene in a controversy over proposed meat import regulations.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, Box 1. Confidential. Sent for action. Concurred in by Gleysteen. Attached but not published at Tab A is Scowcroft’s undated talking points; attached but not published at Tab B is Fraser’s undated letter to Ford. Fraser’s letter concluded, “it is my firm view that the quantity of Australian meat to be permitted entry to the USA this year, should be in no way reduced below the level of 632.2 million pounds previously agreed between our two governments.” On November 6, Deputy Executive Secretary Frank Ortiz notified Scowcroft that Australia had been informed that its quota for 1976 was 632.2 million pounds. (ibid.)