Office of the Historian

244. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1 2

Washington, March 22, 1973

SUBJECT:

  • Return of US Ambassador to Uganda

Secretary Rogers has sent the memorandum at Tab A asking that you reconsider your decision (as shown at Tab B) not to send Ambassador Melady back to Uganda. The Secretary argues that withdrawal of our Ambassador might set off Amin against our 570 Americans and make it difficult for us to quietly reduce our presence there. Rogers states that he understands why you do not want Melady back, but in a scribed note says that Amin “is crazy and we have to recognize it.”

We held up action on the Rogers reclama because of a subsequent cable from Kampala on the security situation in Uganda. Our Charge feared that Amin, who has glorified the Palestinian guerrillas, would not deter the Black September movement from acting against our personnel in Kampala. The Palestinian threat now appears to have been exaggerated, however, although the internal security situation in Uganda remains as precarious as ever.

While I concurred with State’s earlier recommendation that Melady return because he could coordinate our phase-down better, and possibly deflect Amin’s attention from our activities, I no longer agree. Melady’s absence has not resulted in harm to our personnel, nor hampered our phase-out activities in any apparent way. Melady left Uganda on February 9.

RECOMMENDATION

That you disapprove Secretary Rogers’ reclama that you reconsider your decision not to send Ambassador Melady back to Uganda.

Agree [RN]
Disagree, Melady may return for a few months.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 746, Uganda, Vol. 1. Secret. Sent for action. A notation on the memorandum reads: “The President has seen.” Nixon initialed next to “Agree.” Tab A is Document 243; Tab B is Document 242.↩
  2. Kissinger explained that security concerns in Uganda had caused him to withhold a decision on Ambassador Melady’s return to Kampala, but that the threat seemed now exaggerated, and he recommended disapproving Secretary Rogers’ appeal. Nixon agreed with the recommendation.↩