Page:Ford, Bipartisan Congressional Leadership - September 12, 1974(Gerald Ford Library)(1552782).pdf/5

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CONFIDENTIAL
5

American influence on the Turks. We have been husbanding that to use in the negotiations to get what is necessary. If we cut beforehand, we get nothing for it, and the Greeks get nothing for it. Turkey can't move except in the context of negotiations.

Hays: You should tell this to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mahon: It is evident to me that there won't be a foreign aid appropriation bill by recess. We will need a new CR. If we could get a standard CR without gimmicks -- without Mideast funds -- we could avoid the restrictions for awhile.

Cederburg: But I think the CR would be amended to include the restrictions.

Speaker: A CR is modified by any authorization bill passed.

Kissinger: Our problems are not Israel, but Egypt and Syria.

Hays: But you have to tie them together to get anything for Egypt and Syria.

President: There are some very delicate problems which rely on use of contingency funds. It's almost gone. We will account for it after, but can't do it now.

Sparkman: I think we should take no action on Greek-Turkish aid until Kissinger finishes negotiations.

President: I agree. The situation in Greece is touchy. The government could go sharply right or left.

Kissinger: I say this privately -- Karamanlis has a tough problem. He has to maneuver to isolate the Papandreou group and to make anti-American statements to preempt the left.

Mahon: It is the consensus that we have a CR until November.

Speaker: I am not sure you should have a bill before January or February. How about the Senate?

Byrd: We had intended to take a bill up next week but could probably defer it until after recess. But we should make a CR until February.


CONFIDENTIAL