Office of the Historian

42. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon1

Washington, December 11, 1973.

Following is Secretary Kissinger’s report on the first meeting of the North Atlantic Council:

1. The first day of the NATO Ministerial has ended. The round of speeches (including the UK and FRG) this morning was generally positive toward your Year of Europe initiative and conciliatory in tone toward the U.S.

2. I spoke this afternoon, along the lines described in my earlier message to you. I will ask General Scowcroft to provide you with a copy of the text of my remarks as soon as they can be transcribed and dispatched.

3. The remainder of the afternoon session was desultory until Jobert spoke. The French Foreign Minister:

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—charged that the prevention of nuclear war agreement has called the U.S. nuclear commitment to Western Europe into question;

—said that there was need for an independent European defense and pointed to the fact that both Britain and France had nuclear weapons of their own;

—complained about lack of consultation on the Middle East and our alert.

4. It was a very tough speech. While I did not respond to all his remarks, I did feel it necessary to set the record straight on the prevention of nuclear war agreement. I said that you and I had met with the North Atlantic Council and explained the agreement in great detail. I, therefore, saw no reason constantly to place an interpretation on the agreement that not even the Soviets had sought, and that we would reject if they did.

5. I then reviewed the articles of the agreement, emphasizing that it imposed no obligations, only objectives, and that—for the first time in a public document—it recognizes the likely escalation of conventional war into nuclear war. I also pointed out that allies of either party were specifically excluded from any obligations there might be.

6. I closed by saying that if these misinterpretations of the agreement should continue, I could only conclude that it would not be inadvertent.

7. Jobert’s answer was to say that only experience would tell, and that he would admit he was wrong should that prove to be the case.

8. Numerous foreign ministers, as well as Secretary General Luns asked me to send you their warm regards.

9. We meet again tomorrow for a wrap-up session. I will report from London tomorrow evening.

  1. Summary: Scowcroft relayed a report from Kissinger on the first meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

    Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 43, HAK Trip Files, HAK Trip—Europe & Mid East, Dec 8–22, 1973, State Cables, Memos & Misc (TS/SENS, Eyes Only, Codeword 2 of 2). Top Secret; Sensitive. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.

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