MEETING WITH ALBERT BERNARD BONGO PRESIDENT OF GABON THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1973 10:00 A.M. (30 MINUTES) THE OVAL OFFICE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-298-1-1-9
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: February 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 2, 1973
• Content Type: MISC

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/02/22 - LOC-HAK-298-1-1-
CONFIDENTIAL-GDS
August 2, 1973
MEETING WITH ALBERT BERNARD BONGO
PRESIDENT OF GABON
Thursday, August 2, 1973
10:00 a.m. (30 Minutes)
The Oval Office
I. PURPOSE
From: Henry A. Kissinger
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
To. demonstrate the value we place on our friendship and commer-
cial ties with Gabon., to show our appreciation for Bongo's support
in the UN and elsewhere,and to encourage his moderate views and
acceptance of American investment.
IL. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS, PRESS PLAN
A. Background. President Bongo is on a private visit to the United
States primarily to receive an honorary degree at Duquesne
University in Pittsburgh. This is his first trip to the US except
for a brief visit to New York in 1970. He has been seeking an
opportunity to meet you for some time. He has been a good friend
of the United States. Bethlehem and U. S. Steel have major mining
interests in Gabon, and Gulf Oil is engaged in extensive petroleum
development work there. Gabon consistently has supported the
United States in the UN and elsewhere and Bongo is a moderate
in African circles. During your conversation with Bongo, Mrs.
Nixon is hosting a small coffee for Mrs. Bongo. The Vice Pres-
ident is hosting a working luncheon for President Bongo August 2.
Secretary Rogers is giving" a luncheon August 3. President Bongo
does not speak English.
B. Participants.
Henry A. Kissinger
Alec G. Toumayan, Department of State Interpreter.
C. Press Plan. Press photo opportunity. The meeting has been
announced. Ziegler will give press briefing on the results of the.
meeting.
MORI/CDF
C03230308
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CONFIDENTIAL.
III. TALKING POINTS
1. It is a great pleasure to meet you. I am gratified that our coun-
tries and peoples enjoy such good relations. We share many
common objectives, particularly in seeking to advance individual
human rights and in promoting respect for the diversity and inde -
pendence of African nations. It has been extremely rewarding to
work with your representatives in these very vital pursuits at the
United Nations over the years.
2. Your country has been blessed with abundant mineral resources.
I believe you are pursuing a wise course in encouraging private
investors from abroad to assist in the development of these re-
sources. I have been pleased at the warm commercial relations
developing between our two countries. My Government will continue
to encourage U. S. business firms to invests ate 'n. stl ent oppor-
tunities in Gabon.
3. [If asked] As a complement to your industrial development, it is
most appropriate that you are developing your transportation infra-
structure. There are of course many needs, but I believe that
assistance in coma letin the railroad re resents the most appro--
priate use of U. S. assistance.
[FYI - Gabon's major economic project for the 1970's will be the
Trans-Gabon Railway. The U_ S_ c ,-;t,,,f-,nr, is 20 i l l from
Ex-Im Bank for the Railwa and 5
-AID roads. Bongo may probe for additional aid to the Railway, or other
projects. ]
4. [If asked] I appreciate your invitation to send a representative to
the celebration of Gabon's Thirteenth National Day on August 17.
We will be responding through our Embassy very soon.
[FYI - While there are no foreign policy reasons for sending a
special representative this year, the matter is being discussed
between State and White House staffs. ]
5. (If desired] From the perspective of six years as President of your
country, how would you assess the international environment for deal -
ing with the particular problems unique to developing countries, and
what can industrialized nations do to improve this atmosphere
CONFIDENTIAL
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(institutionally and in our policies)?
6. [If asked] I appreciate your invitation to visit Gabon. While at
present, I have no definite plans for a visit to Africa, if such
an opportunity becomes passible, I will advise you further.
[FYI - Gabon has a standing invitation to you for a visit; first
presented in 1971 and reiterated this past April. ]
Attachments:
Tab A - Man of Gabon
a memo rorn Department of State
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A T L A N T I C
OCEAN
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No Objection
Ebotawa
C A M
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Rio Benito (RIQ MUNI)
LIBREVILLE La~ta
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I 111 1
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Washington, O.C. 20520
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CONFIDENTIAL July 27, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. HENRY A. KISSINGER
THE WHITE HOUSE
Subject: Visit of President Bernard Bongo of Gabon
President Bernard Bongo of Gabon has accepted
President Nixon's invitation to call at the White House
on August 2, 1973 at 10 a.m.
Bongo has been seeking. this opportunity for some
time because he has never met the President, and because
he is a great admirer of the United States. He is parti-
cularly pleased with the state of American-Gabonese
relations.
Gabon is very closely tied to France through
economic, military and cultural agreements. The French
private sector plays the predominant role in the economy.
An important objective for Bongo is to demonstrate to
his own people that he has access to world leaders such
as President Nixon, and that his foreign policy is not
exclusively focused on France.
Bongo has been a good friend of the United States.
He has welcomed American investment. Be } ,gem and
US Steel have major mining interests, and Gulf Oil is
enggaged"".in extensive petroleum development work. a' "..Y.."
international issues, Gabon has consistently supported
the US in the UN and elsewhere.. He is a moderate in
African circles., and is flatly opposed to violent
solutions to the southern African problem.
Bongo has also been helpful to us with some problems
concerning other African governments. When Congo
(Brazzaville) informed the press they might be willing
to resume relations with the US, Bongo served as an
CONFIDENTIAL
GDS-DECLAS 12/31/79
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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V
CONFIDENTIAL
intermediary and determined that while the Brazzaville
Government was interested, it was not yet ready to take
the necessary action. When there were a number of
forged documents circulating in central Africa last
year falsely accusing the US of political subversion,
Bongo assisted in the delicate task of persuading
CAR President Bokassa to ask the US Government for an
analysis before taking precipitous action.
Our objective is to show our appreciation for his
support, to encourage him to continue on a moderate path,
and to emphasize the private sector as the best source of
An issues and talking points paper,
and a background paper are a ac e .
25X1
Theodore L. liot, Jr.
Executive secretary
Attachments:
American development capital for Gabon.
1. Issues and Talking Points for the President
Background paper
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25X1
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 DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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- _,.... - --
_
Issues and Talkin Points
General Remarks
We recommend that you:
-- express great pleasure at meeting President Bongo
for the first time.
-- thank him for his government's consistent support
at the United Nations on issues of importance to the
US, es pecial] Chinese representation and the 25%
assessment question.
cKesson who has done much to improve un e s ancx.ng
e weer. ur two governments.
-- state that you share his confidence in Ambassador
-- indicate how pleased you were in
Bongo as co-International H
Albert Schwei
Issues President Bongo May Raise
1972 to join
Economic Development - Gabon's major economic
project of the 1.970s, and Bongo's political showpiece,
will be the Trans-Gabon Railway. This $200 millign.
project will open the interior rain forest o e sea.
A second phase planned for the 1980s will extend the
railroad to the iron ore deposits in the northeast.
Financing for phase one was arranged on July 11 by
pledges from the French, the Common Market, the United
States, and the private sector. Gabon is providing
$40 million of its own money. The US contribution is
$20 million from Eximbank, and $5 million from AID which
will finance required feeder roads for the timber exports.
Bongo is very pleased that the projects can now go ahead,
and is happy with the US contribution. However, he may
probe for additional aid to the railway or for assistance
to other projects. With a per capital annual income of
over $600 Gabon does no nee concessions aid. Bongo
should oo to the private sector for major resource inputs.
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CONFIDENTIAL
We recommend that you:
-- express pleasure that the US is able to make
available $25 million to the railway and associated
roads.
-- with respect to other possible requests, say
that the US would prefer to concentrate its
assistance in Gabon's most important development
project... the railroad.
-- say how much we appreciate Gabon's warm welcome
to investments of t,e,.-W6-1wQivate sector which now
amount to abou
-- congratulate Bongo for scheduling appointments
with business leaders during his. stay in the US
because we fee1~~~n~~.ctc pan make a
major contribution to Gabonese development.
-- assure him that the American Government will
continue to encourage US business firms to
investigate investment opportunities in Gabon,
and will continue to give favorable reports on the
investment climate in Gabon
Department of State
July 1973
CONFIDENTIAL
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