Page:Ford, Kissinger, French Ambassador Kosciusko-Morizet - August 24, 1974(Gerald Ford Library)(1552763).pdf/2

 Henry has spoken of having a personal meeting early in 1975. I understand he will be in Martinique.

I don't know the dates. He wanted to know your intentions first.

If you would pass on my willingness to President Giscard, we can begin preparations now for a meeting there.

I will be happy to.

We are pleased at the improvement of our relations recently. It didn't look so good a while back, but now it is looking much better.

It is not so much a change as a restoration.

Only one year was bad, with your President sick and Jobert.

Maybe our aspirations were too high and our disappointments too deep.

At this time we would hope we can work with you and the Alliance to keep the Soviet Union from meddling in the Greek-Turkish situation.

There is no anti-American element in our Greek policy, but we know there is much Greek frustration, and we are supporting Karamanlis to keep him from the pressures of the left and the Soviet Union.

Movement of the Soviet Union into this problem would not be in Greek, Alliance, or your or our interest. We are not abandoning Greece. We are faced with pragmatic problems. We are hoping that arrangements can be worked out in a way to keep the Soviet Union out.

Nor have we abandoned Turkey. They suffered a lot in Cyprus.

I told Ambassador Kosciusko-Morizet yesterday that we would use our influence on the Turks to stay close to the Alliance. Greek intransigence would make this more difficult. This morning we