EastTimor. Transcript. The Secretary’s Principal’s and Regional Staff Meeting. 12 Aug 1975.

pp 2-5. Reports of coup in Portuguese Timor. Habib recommended that the US not get involved. Secretary agreed that we should express no public opinion.

pp 5-7. Leaks re question of Presidential visit to India. Secretary referred to Gwertzman article in N.Y. Times. Atherton was certain source was not NEA; he undertook to assure that all hands would keep quiet on this subject.

pp 7-9. Argentina sitrep by Rogers. Secretary requested ARA briefing memorandum on dynamics of internal situation in that country.

pp 9-12. Panama Canal negotiations. Rogers mentioned favorable reaction to announcement of Bunker’s return, and Secretary agreed that Defense group could visit Panama in early September. Rogers discussed Defense desire to play larger role in negotiations. Secretary stated that he would not permit DOD reps to be on negotiating team because of larger considerations related to such a step. Rogers promised Secretary a memorandum on subject.

pp. 13-16. CSCE implementation on maneuvers. Armitage discussed situation with respect to Autumn Forge series of NATO exercises. Secretary agreed with Hyland-Lord view that maneuvers should be notified. Armitage promised memorandum on subject.

p. 17. Secretary said that Somali ambassador should have appointment with President in order to deliver message from President Siad.

pp 17-20. Rhodesian situation. Mulcahy gave status report on prospective negotiations and South African interest in settlement.

pp 21-28. Articles in press (e.g., Zumwalt) re allegations of Soviet SALT violations. Hyland suggested possibility of classified “white paper” for selected Congressman. Secretary approved idea of paper and requested that it deal with origin of agreement as well as question of violations. Secretary said he would not testify before Senator Jackson, but was willing to appear before Morgan.

pp 29-31. Indian situation. Atherton discussed reimposition of pre-censorship and resultant problem for VOA correspondent. Secretary agreed that correspondent should be withdrawn quietly in event of pre-censorship. Secretary requested NEA to get Prime Minister Chavan’s visit dates changed to avoid conflict with Japanese Emperor’s visit.

pp 31-34. Sitreps by Buffum on Vietnam UN membership issue, Israeli UN expulsion question, and North Korean UN resolution. Habib discussed North Korean deisre to negotiate peace treaty with US, noting US requirements that South Koreans and Chinese be included.

pp 35-38. Secretary’s speech at UN Special Session. Secretary requested from Enders, by end of day, listing of unresolved issues and general outline of speech. (Needed for discussions with President at Vail.)

The Secretary’s 8:00 a.m. Staff Meeting Tuesday, August 12, 1975.

Participants: The Secretary of State, Henry A. Kissinger.

P, Mr. Sisco.

M, Mr. Eagleburger.

AF, Ambassador Mulcahy, Acting.

ARA, Mr. Rogers.

EA, Mr. Habib.

EUR, Mr. Armitage, Acting.

NEA, Mr. Atherton.

INR, Mr. Hyland.

S/P, Mr. Lord.

EB, Mr. Enders.

S/PRS, Mr. Funseth.

PM, Mr. Vest.

IO, Mr. Buffum.

H, Mr. Jenkins, Acting.

L, Mr. Schwebel, Acting.

S/S, Mr. Borg, Acting.

S, Mr. Bremer.

Proceedings

Kissinger: Joe.

Sisco: Nothing.

Eagleburger: Nothing.

Kissinger: Phil.

Habib: We have had an incomplete series of reports on a coup in Portuguese Timor, which is creating a little bit of flak in Indonesia and Australia. We are not sure what happened, but evidently one of the Timorese Liberation for Independence groups has taken over the government one way or another. We don’t know their intentions are. The Indonesians are quire upset and are mobilizing some forces very quickly. When the situation becomes clear, we will know whether or not it is sufficiently serious that the Indonesians will take action. It is quite clear the Indonesians will not let a hostile group – that is to say a Communist-dominated group – take over.

Kissinger: Yes. But who is that group?

Habib: As best we can tell, it is a group called the UDT, the Democratic Union of Timorese, which is not a Communist-controlled group. There is another group on the island which has some armed forces which is a Communist-dominated group. If it is the UDT, it may very well be that the Indonesians are behind it and are not telling anybody yet. But from intercept traffic, we are not sure that the Indonesians are that fully clued in. And we will just to have to wait. We should have some more information today. In any event, whichever way it goes, if it is an Indonesian move, or the Indonesians move against it, I think it is a situation in which we should just do nothing. It is quite obvious that the Indonesians are not going to let any hostile element take over an island right in the midst of the Indonesian archipelago.

Kissinger: It is quite clear that the Indonesians are going to take over the island sooner or later.

Habib: Eventually. That is always expected. The only ones liable to react verbally will be the Australians, who will feel impelled to say something.

Kissinger: Why should Whitlam care about the disappearance of a vestige of colonialism?

Habib: Whitlam has said over and over again they don’t mind what happens to Portuguese Timor so long as it is with the consent of the people – and he has taken that high posture, and his party is on record. As a matter of fact, he said something like that to you when he was here. And they have assumed that it eventually if it will be free, the preferable thing would be to let it stay in Portuguese hands for a couple of years while it sorts itself out.

Kissinger: What does “sort itself out” mean in Timor?

Habib: The answer is until the Indonesians have organized sufficiently the Timorese into some kind of pro-Indonesian enosis group.

Kissinger: Aren’t you getting carried away a little bit?

Habib: It is a Greek world I learned from Tom Enders, who speaks Greek fluently. Or is that Latin you speak? But in any event, the important thing is that we should not get ourselves sucked into this one by having opinions, unless you disagree – I mean publicly. (Laughter) I think it is just made to order –.

Kissinger: You didn’t mean that last phrase at all.

Habib: Well, subject to your confirmation, I have provided the guidance yesterday we should have no comment.

Kissinger: Our Indian desk takes the news for this week, doesn’t it. Why is there a daily comment on what is going on in India about the cancellation of the Presidential trips?

Atherton: I have seen one story in the Times this morning.

Kissinger: I saw another story in the Times on Sunday. I didn’t even know there was such a study going on.

Atherton: There was a memorandum to you on this. That is the only thing.

Hyland: This intelligence quote – by Binder.

Atherton: There is an intelligence study on internal developments. But on the question of the President’s visit, the only thing I know of is the memorandum we had with you.

Kissinger: Has that gotten to me?

Atherton: I think so.

Kissinger: I don’t want to hurt Gwertzman’s feelings that I have ssen a memo before he does.

Atherton: Gwertzman’s story today refers to.