LETTER TO RICHARD M. HELMS FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-3-3-17-6
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2010
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: December 5, 1969
• Content Type: LETTER

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a ?
is a~ note w eb
to .ty to 1111 .s and Mel
L. . r* . I know t t y ra r s c lira in the
Agency U Wpfvl . to . ; w ? . lAn+ ,
AM.ers*u and Mu pby d vMh t : + eve
the prtr vt actor of their visits.
Warm regards,
Saundervs1nt 1215 /69
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WASHINGTON
SECRET /NODIS
r" 1989
The President recently asked Messrs. Franklin Lincoln, George
Anderson, and Robert Murphy to give him the benefit of their
thoughts on the future U. S. role in the Mediterranean region. He
has suggested that as they travel in that area--as' they do from
time to time--they might try to arrange useful discussions with
contacts whose thoughts on this subject could be interesting. Although
these gentlemen are members of the President's Foreign Intelligence
Advisory Board, he has asked their views in their private capacities
and not as members of the Board.
Each of them will be traveling individually on private business to
selected countries in this general area over the next several months.
Where possible, incident to their private 'business, they will take
advantage of their presence to hold discussions with both governmental
and non-governmental contacts," many of whom they will arrange to
see through their own contacts. Their informal visits will be kept as
inconspicuous as possible to avoid arousing speculation about some
sort of Presidential mission." Efforts will be made to avoid publicity.
Prior to their trips, they will be briefed on broad U. S. policy concerns
in the area. When their itineraries are determined, I shall let you know
at that time so that "Eyes Only" messages can be sent to the U. S.
Ambassadors in the countries to be visited in order that they may help
make arrangements along the following lines:
1. Private discussions with the Ambassadors themselves.
2. Meetings with Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign
Ministers, Defense Ministers, etc., if the access of the Ambassador
permits making such arrangements without attendant publicity. (The
Ambassador may say privately that the visitor is traveling on private
business but is a personal associate of the President; that he will be
seeing the President from time to time on his return; and that the
SECRET /NODIS
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SECRET/NODIS
Ambassador believes it might be helpful if informal conversations
could be arranged. The Ambassador should. emphasize that the
visitor bears no messages; that he is not visiting in an official
capacity; but that it might be profitable for him to hear the general
views of the party concerned.)
3. Informal meetings with individuals outside the government
whom the U. S. Ambassador regards as especially perceptive on
international political matters and whom the Ambassador can bring
together naturally and, without fanfare (e. g. , representatives from
business, academic and related fields).
I wish to stress the informal and private nature of these visits.
All the U. S. Ambassadors are being asked to arrange is a valuable
supplement to an essentially private visit which might be. helpful. to
the President in the months ahead and perhaps a little. staff assistance
if needed.
For my staff, this matter will be coordinated by Hal Saunders. He
will be in touch with the department as the individual members of the
group arrange their specific travel schedules and as they make requests
for background briefings,
I am forwarding copies of this note to Mel Laird and to Dick Helms for
their information.
Warm regards,
Henry A. Kissinger
The Honorable William P. Rogers
Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington, D. C.
cc: Secretary of Defense
Director of Central Intelligence
SECRET/NODIS
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FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE (Henry Kissinger)
TO: EYES ONLY FOR THE
CHIEF OF MISSION
ITALY
GREECE
TURKEY
CYPRUS
MALTA
SPAIN
1. Admiral George W. Anderson, USN (Retired), will be
visiting Mediterranean countries. during the period 12 December 1969
to 7 January 1970. He will be travelling in a private business capacity.
Although a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory
Board, this is not the purpose of this trip. For your eyes only, the
President has asked him to take advantage of his normal travels to
discuss with personal contacts the general state of the U. S. position
in the broad Mediterranean area, and he will see the President-. .
die after he returns.
2. Before leaving Washington, Admiral Anderson will have
been appropriately briefed and he holds all intelligence clearances.
The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Moorer, will alert the Naval
Attaches concerned of his schedule, with the request that, as a retired
Chief of Naval Operations, they be of assistance to him. The Naval
Attache will inform you of the specific dates of his arrival and departure.
SECRET
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? w
SECRET - 2
3. It would be appreciated if, in the most inconspicuous
and informal way, you could arrange for suitable high-level contacts
to the extent that this can be accomplished without raising questions or
attracting publicity. You may say that the Admiral is travelling on
private business but iis-a-peas-onal--associate-of-the President whom-hea
-se:s from time to time, and that you believe it would be helpful if you
could arrange for a meeting for a general chat. He bears no messages
and is not visiting in any official capacity, but there could be mutual
profit by hearing the contacts' general views on the Mediterranean
situation.
4. For your background, Admiral Anderson has served as
Ambassador to Portugal, as Chief of Naval Operations, as Commander
of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and on the staff at SHAPE.
Hence, he would benefit most from conversations with military and
civilians in or out of government whom you regard as especially per-
ceptive in international political and strategic matters. He will also
want to have a chance to hear your own personal views.
5. Again, I would like to stree the desirability of preserving
the private nature of his visit and avoiding publicity. There is no
justification for speculation about any sort of special mission and we want
to avoid it.
6. Mrs. Anderson will accompany the Admiral only to Italy and
SDain but rczc111i rra c -nn ~ as -1 ..
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Sl,:CRET/ rODIS
TL'R? " OPfi . ER ;JJC ;
ll Ge~`~, r l ?~.^uo 8 t:i o,na
The odds are that the A r,1.la-lzraela imps sse will co.a --pi.:.n e, tho - h we
shall continuo diplomatic efforto to resolve it, If it ?o .=t , thc question
the President mast Paco h how the U. S. can -minimize the d ago to
its intcare ;ts In t1m--,, broader Mlddl East through a prolong= d period
of Arab-Israeli ho etilit-j. TI x,- more q; tions that follow
represent the various facets of this h,-- NIc. q: eetlo is
1. What is the inipo:r-tance of the Middle East to the U. S.' today?
tThe President's q:wction Maass Should we let th J4AJ1 1,-East go
downy the drti.in?
I"aow dce Tv"e t ra European lzxti~. est in t ho Mid. a t differ from-,%
U. S. inter"ezt? Pic vih,-t e i3t wot .1 t '''>'.catern LUr,:;,-,e carry Free
1~'orld i1--tero*t3 If -h,o U. S. backed o L frog. the IA-id- ,at for a
tixaa0 7
3. To . hat extent 1i`2Lt.:t the Arali-fart eli lr pa zo .~ r.yac our rel^wion.
Ship with tR rout of the ?_ iddio Last? If it continue i it ihl
to i s l t it and c~a a=ia da na ;e to Lila: '. . po tion to a limited
area?
4. Another way of p-u.:i.-,g t the 1a ttt r t eet:ion is- .Are U. S. int ero,sts
i the Auddle Ee.^t Stich that tle.4.,y C ",n 13-- products vo.iy purc'ued
by Mdi ftln; our con c .trct on v to the brc u,d are -a ?:.:7X a r'.'io
a 1 acCG3
to Iran ~rrithow? sorlou,u lo,-,z ? Or t.,',--aid thece'~" ..4h ke to ou po,r.1tioia.
~T 7 would 'probably rit' i?l.It frosl'.~. a prol";;IaciCi
.' Co d t:1 ''ii g a to a
:fkect our Mitt s?4~"L over the who
-,I%at Corr non Ciw"4~t3a3:adx,, 3, if any, oxtht in th area _iom 1-;In
to Morocco? Are new relatio-nob.ips or threats evolvin within
Oils area which a ak: e it usefail to view it as a whole? Do these
r'~ I.;:t.i? scrl~ pe offer X aortunity for a: w U. S. I.ra.iLia lives?
The co qz: t tions can be okhorated in relation to eaa.ch of the major
ciao -re ion;3 that - iI1 be the sul-ject of thin iuve :tlgation.
SEC:. R.ET/1 0DIS
Hi1.ISaunders: xn:11/12/69
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CRET/pp
MEMORANDUM FOR DR.. KISSINGER
FROM: Harold H. Saunders
December S. 1969
SUBJECT: Lincoln-Murphy-Anderson Trips to Mediterranean
}iere is where the tannin eta ads:
1. The only one with a met plan is Admiral Anderson. He leaves
December I1 for Rome. He will also visit Naples. Athens, Izmir,
Ankara. Nicosia, Malta, Madrid. He will travel under cover of a
request from. Admiral Moorer to report on naval attaches' relations
with host countries.
Z. The others have only tentative plans as follows:
Mr. Lincoln--Parts, Brussels; Lebanon, Iran. Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia and perhaps one or two of the Persian Gulf shaikhdon .
Mr. M,uriht-..Paris, Brussels, Rome; Lebanon. North Africa.
3. I set these gentlemen up today with briefings by appropriate
Assistant Secretaries or Deputy Assistant Secretaries in State.
I need two minutes'.guidance from a to et them on. their was:
1. They would like to have Secretary Rogers and Laird and Mr. Helms
info xned privately of what the President has asked them to do. In order
to keep this in proportion, they have asked whether you would mind
sending just a personal note informing them.
Recomriendation: That you si the letter; at Tab A.
. You earlier agreed to send "eyes only'" messages to the
anibaassadors. With Admiral Anderson leaving December 11, we should
get one out on him by Decenniber 8.
SECRk.T/NODIS
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W 1P
SECT / NIS - 2
Recommendation. That you a rove the cable text at Tab B by
Monday, Deco er S.
Approve
Other
3. You sicd you wanted to make some changes in the suggested
terms of reference.
Recommendation; That you en an c es at Tab C.
SECT T/NOD S
HHSaunders.tmt 12/5/69
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