MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
TOP SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
- PARTICIPANTS:
- President Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs - DATE AND TIME:
- Thursday, August 15, 1974
9:00 a. m. - PLACE:
- The Oval Office
The President: Shouldn't we get it out of the way?
Kissinger: The problem is getting a good statement. The thrust should now be different. You would be comfortable with next Thursday?
The President: It is up to you.
Kissinger: On the Saudi military -- I don't think you should leave any department that leverage. Just have Brent get the availability. You don't have to do anything now. Right now it just creates problems. Now it creates the impression of bad faith. It is not illegal but it would look like sharp practice. We can wait for the Saudi team. We can just give Egypt delivery times at my levels.
I think it is better to hold it all informally to avoid any possibility of a charge of sharp practice. If this is okay, we will do it this way and have Schlesinger and Clements over when the times comes.
The President: Does that break faith with Fahmy?
Kissinger: He just needs to know when we can deliver. The Saudis probably won't be here until early October. Then you get Defense in and tell them. It is one thing to sell something which then they wish to transfer; it is another to sell with the intent to transfer.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
CLASSIFIED BY Henry A. Kissinger
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
EXEMPTION CATEGORY 5(b) (1,3)
(illegible text) Imp. to det.
