46. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford, Washington, July 8, 1976.1 2
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEETING WITH WILLIAM W. SCRANTON U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Thursday, July 8, 1976
5:30 p.m. (15 minutes)
The Oval
Office
From: Brent Scowcroft [BS initialed]
I. PURPOSE
Governor Scranton wishes to report to you on his recent trip to Africa and his upcoming trip to Europe. He will also wish to discuss our position on the Uganda Rescue Mission at the UN and the continuing issues of Korea, Puerto Rico and Panama.
II. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
A. Background: Governor Scranton has just returned from Africa where he visited 11 countries: Sierra Leone, Senegal, Upper Volta, Gabon, Tanzania, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia, Cameroon and the Ivory Coast. With the notable exception of Mozambique, he met with key leaders to discuss your African policy and important UN issues. He was generally very well received, and found a sympathetic hearing among friendly and moderate non-aligned nations for his exposition of your African policy and his request that the nations of Africa take a moderate position on three issues of particular sensitivity to the United States at the UN: Korea, Puerto Rico and Panama.
On the Korea issue, we understand Governor Scranton returned from Africa with several ideas on how this matter can best be handled in the United Nations this year. The State Department believes the best strategy is a simple reiteration of our proposal last year for a meeting of the parties concerned to work out arrangements for continuation of the armistice after termination of the UN Command. This could also include a call for a North-South meeting. You may wish to indicate to Scranton that the important task will be to line up support for a friendly resolution if there is another hostile resolution. We would of course carefully consider any new ideas the Governor may have.
Concerning Panama, Scranton may suggest that it would be useful if the negotiators could be in Panama at the time of Torrijos’ attendance at the Non-Aligned Conference in order to indicate continuing momentum in the negotiations. The coincidence of timing with the Republican Convention, however, make a visit of the negotiators highly undesirable. No firm dates for another round of treaty talks has yet been set.
On the Puerto Rico issue Scranton will want to talk briefly about his efforts during his African trip and in Europe later this month to build support for our efforts to squash the Cuban attempt to raise Puerto Rico at both the Colombo Non-Aligned Conference and the United Nations General Assembly.
Governor Scranton may also raise the matter of the Security Council meeting on the Israeli Rescue Mission in Uganda, which is now scheduled to convene on Friday, July 9. The U.S. delegation has developed a draft resolution which condemns international acts of terrorism directed against air traffic and equally condemns all countries who cooperate with terrorists. Governor Scranton will also wish to discuss the best course of action should a resolution including a condemnation of Israel be supported by a majority of the Security Council.
Finally, the Governor wishes to discuss his upcoming trip to Europe, tentatively scheduled for July 14 to July 23. His general purpose will be to make clear the U.S. position on UN issues of special concern to us, particularly Korea and Puerto Rico, and to share with European leaders impressions from his African trip. Specifically, he plans to visit The Hague for talks on EC-9-UN cooperation, visit NATO in Brussels, attend the ECOSOC Conference in Geneva, and visit Belgrade for talks on the upcoming Non-Aligned Conference in Colombo.
B. Participants: Ambassador Scranton and Brent Scowcroft.
C. Press Plan: White House Photographer only.
III. TALKING POINTS
1. Africa: I understand you were well received in Africa. I am anxious to hear your impressions from your trip.
2. Korea: The other side’s strategy on the Korean issue is not yet clear. Do you assume that they will present a resolution similar to last year’s?
--The chances for an agreement or a compromise seem very slight. I do not believe that either the PRC or the Soviet Union has sufficient leverage to wring any serious concession from Pyong Yang.
--At this point we don’t expect to make any major change in our strategy. We will of course welcome any new ideas that you may have.
3. Puerto Rico: I agree absolutely that we must do everything in our power to prevent the Cubans from raising the issue of Puerto Rico at the General Assembly. As you know, there is absolutely no legal basis for any challenge to Puerto Rico’s status. I hope my statement in Puerto Rico last month made clear to all UN members how strongly I feel on this issue.
4. Israeli Rescue Mission: I certainly hope we can avoid any UN condemnation of Israel for the rescue mission in Uganda. I don’t see how we could avoid having to veto any Security Council resolution which contains such a condemnation.
5. European Trip: I hear you will be off in a few days to visit Europe. I would like to hear about your plans.
- Source: Ford Library, Connor Files, Box 3, USUN, William W. Scranton. Confidential. A memorandum of conversation of the July 8 meeting, which deals primarily with African issues, is ibid., National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Box 20, July 8, 1976—Ford, Ambassador William Scranton (UN).↩
- Scowcroft informed Ford of issues likely to be discussed at an upcoming meeting with Scranton.↩