by Gerald Ford and Henry Alfred Kissinger

“ It is too early for us to get involved. We either get egg on our face or we end up beating on the Turks. The more who float the biregional deal, the better off we are eventually. It is better if we don't get stuck with the negotiation. The British will probably fail. If they do, I could offer to meet Karamanlis here or in Europe -- not to settle, but to trigger a negotiation, hopefully one we wouldn't have to run. ”

“ We could be heading for a confrontation with the Arabs.
In any crisis the Europeans are like jackals. You know what the French did in Greece. Now Wilson is saying we didn't stop the Turks so we could get credit for the new administration. When they behave like this on Greece, what they would do in a Middle East crisis would be brutal.
The President: That shouldn't make Israel happy.
Kissinger: It should make them unhappy. There is a report that the Arabs offered Porgugal 400 million to prevent is from using Lajes. ”

“ These guys will get screwed -- you can't bring pressure here now. First it must be Egypt and Jordan.
Israel now would go to war first before dealing with Syria. So we have to keep Syria quiet. We made good progress yesterday. I vaguely presented some ideas: That the next move couldn't get to the final borders; there would have to be another move in Egypt and Jordan -- and I throw in Syria.
You could say you would support another move in the Golan. There is another line half way down the Golan. The problem is the Israeli settlements. ”

“ Karamanlis says he is in an impossible situation -- he is the U.S.'s best friend in Greece. That is true, but, he is not yet ready to accept help.
President: His terms are too high.
Kissinger: Yes. The Greeks and Clerides have accepted the Soviet proposal in principle. Everyone is sort of playing their own game now. We could even trigger the Soviets to make a specific proposal. There is no solution which wouldn't infuriate someone. ”

“ I have bobbed and weaved all over the place on this. We can't be pinned down. Say you understand their position. We are for a just peace. They are not likely to consider as a just peace one which doesn't restore the borders. ”

“ Cedarberg thought that if you didn't call some, they would put on country restrictions -- cut the Arabs, raise Israel. What Israel must understand is....
The President: Maybe we will have to veto.
Kissinger: If I knew you were going to do this. They are strapped for money. Syria doesn't need the money; for us there it's just a toe hold. ”

“ I told the Greek-Americans there is no possible motive for us to be anti-Greece, and I sent Kubisch to their convention. In two to three weeks they will bring a larger group down and you might want to meet with them. ”

“ You wouldn't be proud of my morals. He must take back that you will support another move. He went on television saying they would be patient. The Syrians are honest romantics if they are not cornered. ”