CABLE TO HENRY A. KISSINGER FROM BRENT SCOWCROFT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-261-5-34-9
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 4, 2009
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: October 12, 1974
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/04: LOC-HAK-261-5-34-9
0 122159Z OCT 74 ZFF- 1 ZYH
FM THE SITUATION ROOM
TO AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
Z EM
S E C R E T SENSITIVE
TOMAX40
PLEASE PASS TO ADAMS/BREMER FOR THE SECRETARY
OCTOBER 12, 1974
TO: HENRY A. KISSINGER
FROM: BRENT SCOWCROFT
THERE FOLLOWS FOR YOUR REVIEW A DRAFT PRESIDENTIAL VETO
STATEMENT ON THE CRA. PRESENT INTENTION IS TO VETO ABOUT NOON
O N MONDAY:
"AT THE BEGINNING OF MY ADMINISTRATION I PLEDGED TO
WORK CLOSELY AND COOPERATIVELY WITH THE CONGRESS. I BELIEVE I
HAVE KEPT THAT PROMISE. I SAVE APPEARED BEFORE TWO JOINT SESSIONS
OF THE CONGRESS, I HAVE MET FREQUENTLY WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH
HOUSES, AND I HAVE AGREED TO APPEAR PERSONALLY BEFORE A SUB-
COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--A STEP NO OTHER
PRESIDENT HAS UNDERTAKEN IN MORE THAN A CENTI.?RY.
"THESE ACTIONS ARE AN EARNEST OF MY COMMITMENT TO A NEW
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXCUTIVE BRANCHES OF
OUR GOVERNMENT. THEY REFLECT MY DEEP LELIEF THAT THE ANTAGGOiNISm
THAT HAVE TOO LONG DIVIDED OUR NATION MUST D E RESOLVED, THAT HOPES
FOR PARTISAN ADVANTAGE MUST BE PUT ASIDE, 7AND THAT WE MUST GET ON
WITH THE BUSINESS OF DOING THE BEST WE CAN FOR OUR COUNTRY.
"THE COOPERATION I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
CONGRESS--DEMOCRATIC AND REPUDLICAN ALIKE--HAS BEEN TRULY
REMARKABLE. THE LEADERS HAVE ADVISED ME AND I HAVE LISTENED;
I HAVE EXPLAINED MY PRObLE(11S TO THEM AND THEY HAVE RESPONDED
WITH UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT. FOR THIS I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL.
ON-FILE NSC
RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
"IT IS, THEREFORE, WITH DEEP REGRET THAT I MUST WITHHOLD MY
APPROVAL OF THE RECENTLY PASSED CONTINUING RESOLUTON GRANTING FUNDS
FOR THE OPERATION OF SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AND FOR THE
TEMPORARY CONTINUATION OF OUR FOREIGN AID PROGRAMS. I TAKE THIS
STEP WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE, BUT IN THE BELIEF THAT I HAVE NO OTHER
CHOI CE No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/04: LOC-HAK-261-5-34-9
 f,C No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/04: LOC-HAK-261-5-34-9 T T O
l 1liNALUIM tr AINZ) AN A1'i1r.tWi'1L'N CtUltt AfV It*irmuLATE.
iY ALL MIL ARY ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY. AT AMENDMENT WAS
C t!"a-OF O
DESPITE MY OWN PUBLIC OBJECTION TO IT, AND IN THE FACE OF THE
UNANIMOUS OPPOSITION OF THE BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP OF BOTH HOUSES
OF CONGRESS. IT IS AN ACT WHICH IS HARMFUL EVEN TO THOSE IT
PURPORTS TO HELP.
?."i, UNITED STATES IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO PLAY A USEFUL ROLE
IN t1::,bISTING THE PARTIES TO A RESOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS DISPUTE.THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION AS AMENDED IS ENTIRELY DESTRUCTIVE OF THOSE
EFFORTS. INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE CYPRUS
U ISPUTE. TO RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, AN ARMS CUT-OFF TO TURKEY
COULD MEAN THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT OF MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS.
INSTEAD OF ST)RE:NGTHENING AMERICA'S AELITY TO PERSUADE THE PARTIES
TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE, IT WOULD LESSEN OUR INFLUENCE ON ALL THE PART
S
CONCERNED. IT WOULD AS WELL IMPERIL OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
OUR TURKISH ALLY AND WEAKEN LIS IN THE CRUCIAL EASTEN Ml?DITERRANE:AN.
"MOST TRAGIC OF ALL, AN ARMS CUT-OFF WOULD NOT HELP GREECE
OR THE GREEK CYPRIOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO TRAGICALLY OVER
THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE STILL.
A SETTLEMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE HONOR AND DIGNITY Or GRLIEGE:, ANNND
ARE PREPARED TO EXERT OUR INFLUENCE TO THAT END. BUT RECKLESS ACTS
THAT PREVENT PROGRESS TOWARD A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT HARM GREEKS.
FOR IT IS THE GREEK GOVERNMENT AND THE GREEK CYPRIOTS WHO HAVE
THE MOST TO GAIN FROM A COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT. AND IT IS THEY
WHO HAVE THE MOST TO LOSE FROM CONTINUED DEADLOCK.
"IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT I AM VETOING THE DILL SENT TO
ME. I DO SO BECAUSE, SHOULD THIS MEASURE EBECOME LAW, IT WOULD
B E IMPOSSILsLE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO CONTINUE TO PLAY ANY MEANING-
FUL ROLE IN ASSISTING THE PARTIES TO RESOLVE THE CYPRUS
DISPUTE. WE WOULD INEVITABLY BE FORCE TO WITH DRAW FROM THE
NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE THE CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TAKEN FROM US THE
TOOLS WE NEED TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME.
"MY CHOICE, THEN, IS UNAVOIDABLE; MY RESPONSIBILITY CLEAR.
I ASK THAT THE CONGRESS RECONSIDER ITS ACTION AND SEND TO ME A
BILL THAT WE CAN ALL SUPPORT; A BILL THAT PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY
NEEDED TO CARRY FORWARL) THE. FOREIGN POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES."
74 U
5953
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/04 : LOC-HAK-261-5-34-9