The Economic Summit at Rambouillet, June 1975–January 1976


91. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Cherokee; Nodis. The Cherokee channel was a channel for the exchange of eyes only messages between the Secretary and an Ambassador.


93. Memorandum From Secretary of the Treasury Simon to President Ford

Source: Ford Library, William Simon Papers, Drawer 25, Folder 9, Pres—Memos to & from W.E.S., 1975 (May–Aug). No classification marking. Attached to a July 24 memorandum from Department of the Treasury staff member F. Lisle Widman to Simon that reads: “There are reports in the press that Giscard d’Estaing may approach President Ford directly with his proposal for a heads of state conference while the two are in Helsinki next week. There may be no foundation whatsoever to these reports, but you may, nevertheless, wish to alert the President to the possibility of an approach. He certainly needs to be fully aware of the issue. There is attached a memorandum which could be used for this purpose should you desire to do so. I have discussed this proposal by telephone with Chuck Cooper who agrees that the President should be advised of this situation either orally or by memorandum.” President Ford was in Helsinki July 29–August 2 to attend the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.


94. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 14. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Chancellery. President Ford visited the Federal Republic of Germany from July 26 to 28, at the start of a 9-day tour of Central and Eastern Europe. This memorandum of conversation is scheduled to be published in full in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume E–15, part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973–1976.


95. Memorandum by West German Chancellor Schmidt

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 14. No classification marking. Attached to the July 27 memorandum of conversation cited in footnote 8, Document 94. According to the July 27 memorandum, “Later in Helsinki, Chancellor Schmidt gave us a memorandum which is attached on ‘International Concentration of Economic Action.’”


97. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors (Burns) to President Ford

Source: Ford Library, President’s Handwriting File, Subject File, Box 19, Finance—Gold. No classification marking. Attached is a covering note indicating that this memorandum and several other attached memoranda were for a meeting on economic and energy issues held on August 29 at 11 a.m. A stamped notation on the covering note indicates the President saw it. Regarding the meeting, see footnote 2, Document 99.


98. Memorandum From Secretary of the Treasury Simon to President Ford

Source: Ford Library, President’s Handwriting File, Subject File, Box 19, Finance—Gold. No classification marking. Sent under cover of an August 28 summary memorandum from Simon to Ford. A stamped notation on the summary memorandum indicates the President saw it. Attached is a covering note indicating that this memorandum and several other attached memoranda were for a meeting on economic and energy issues scheduled for August 29 at 11 a.m. A stamped notation on the covering note indicates the President also saw it. See footnote 3, Document 99.


99. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Economic Policy Board (Porter) to President Ford

Source: Ford Library, President’s Handwriting File, Subject File, Box 19, Finance—Gold. No classification marking. Attached to an August 29 covering memorandum from Connor to President Ford that reads: “Roger Porter sent this in per your request.”


100. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Subject File, Box 8, Gold. No classification marking. Brackets are in the original.


102. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 15. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Oval Office.


104. Memorandum From the Counselor of the Department of State (Sonnenfeldt) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 419, Subject File, Economic Summit Meetings, 1975, Nov. (Rambouillet, France), Chronological File, 8 Oct.–1 Nov. 1975. Secret; Sensitive. Tabs A–C are attached but not printed.


105. Message From President Ford to French President Giscard

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, KissingerScowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 12, France—General (3) (10/5/75–11/3/75). Secret; Immediate. On October 9, Kissinger reported to President Ford: “On the economic summit, the French are still trying to exclude Canada. All the others agree.” The President asked whether he could send President Giscard a message, to which Kissinger responded: “That’s a good thing to do. I think he’ll concede, but even if he doesn’t, we will be in good shape with the Canadians. We could tell Schmidt you are doing so and ask his support.” President Ford replied: “Fine. Let’s do it. We definitely should have Canada.” (Ibid., Memoranda of Conversation, Box 15)


106. Message From President Ford to West German Chancellor Schmidt

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, KissingerScowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 12, France—General (3) (10/5/75–11/3/75). Secret; Immediate.


107. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Cherokee; Nodis.


108. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Subject File, Box 8, Gold. Secret. Sent for information. A stamped notation indicates the President saw the memorandum, which he initialed.


109. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Cherokee; Nodis.


110. Message From President Ford to French President Giscard

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, KissingerScowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 12, France—General (3) (10/5/75–11/3/75). Secret; Immediate.


111. Message From President Ford to British Prime Minister Wilson

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, KissingerScowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 24, United Kingdom (20) (3/3/75–11/18/75). Secret; Immediate.


112. Memorandum From Robert Hormats of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC International Economic Affairs Staff Files, Box 4, Presidential Subject File, Economic Summits—Rambouillet (3). Secret. Sent for information. A longer summit strategy paper, prepared by Hartman, Hormats, and the Policy Planning Staff, was sent in telegram Tosec 160270/251836 to Kissinger, October 23. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files)


113. Message From President Ford to French President Giscard

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, KissingerScowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 12, France—General (3) (10/5/75–11/3/75). Top Secret; Priority. Although sent on November 3, the response is dated November 1.


114. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC International Economic Affairs Staff Files, Box 4, Presidential Subject File, Economic Summits—Rambouillet (4). Confidential; Nodis. Drafted on November 18 by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance and Development Paul Boeker and approved in S on December 11. The meeting took place in the Secretary of State’s conference room. This planning meeting for the economic summit, as well as a subsequent one that took place on November 11 (see Document 116), were initiated by Kissinger and Simon at an October 13 meeting; see Document 235.


115. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Canada

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Sonnenfeldt; cleared by Hartman and Scowcroft and in S/S–O; and approved by Kissinger.


116. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC International Economic Affairs Staff Files, Box 4, Presidential Subject File, Economic Summits—Rambouillet (4). Confidential; Nodis. Drafted on November 20 by Boeker and approved in S on December 11. The meeting took place in the Secretary of State’s conference room.


117. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Federal Republic of Germany

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Flash; Exdis. Drafted by Enders; cleared by Sonnenfeldt, Parsky, Deputy Executive Secretary Frank Ortiz, the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant Paul Barbian, and Scowcroft; and approved by Kissinger. Telegram 267048 to Paris, November 11, forwarded a similar letter for transmission to French President Giscard. (Ibid.) Substantive differences between the two texts are noted below.


118. Memorandum From the Counselor of the Department of State (Sonnenfeldt) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 419, Subject File, Economic Summit Meetings, 1975, Nov. (Rambouillet, France), Chronological File, 12–13 Nov. 1975. Confidential; Eyes Only.


119. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Flash; Nodis.


120. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Flash; Nodis.