Page:Ford, Kissinger, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, Foreign Secretary James Callaghan - May 30, 1975(Gerald Ford Library)(1553097).pdf/7

 Will you tell the Soviets before you make a public statement?

It depends on what the President decides. But maybe we will do it, to give the Soviets a sense of participation. We will have to state a position by the end of the month. If Rabin talks the way he does in his press conferences, it will be very difficult. But we will have to do it and take the heat.

They have a lot of their Cabinet members traveling in the United States. The Senate petition, the letter from the 76 senators, could have been written in the Israeli Embassy.

Javits' AA told Eagleburger that that is what happened.

Two senators have told me it was basically political, to keep fences mended back home. They say they will hold the Foreign Aid bill hostage for including something on Israel. Most of them have never supported foreign aid and here the Israelis want $2.5 billion. They probably don't realize this.

Rafael says that they want to fill the gap in their budget.

They never got more than $800 million so $1.5 billion would be quite a success.

If you have any information before I see Rabin, it would help.

This will be a crucial meeting between Rabin and the President so perhaps you could use your influence on him.

He is an awkward fellow, sort of prickly. Golda was a hawk, but at least you could talk with her.

He is not as relaxed as he was when he was Ambassador.

He has a divided Cabinet.

It is no good trying to get Rabin to stop on the way to the US because we have Fahmy coming at just that time.

It is important to work on Peres. He is like Ecevit.