COLLAPSE OF ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH MADAGASCAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-294-3-22-8
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 9, 2009
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: June 26, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

NIEM No Objection To Declassification 2009/10/09: LOC-HAK-294-3-22-8
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 26, 19.71
SECRET
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM. HENRY A. KISSINGER
SUBJECT: Collapse of Attempts to Resolve
the Problems with Madagascar
we were bringing some "new element" to discuss with them, and
that he was absolutely convinced of the culpability of. Ambas-.
relations with the Malagasy Republic. On Thursday night, these
hopes began to collapse. We discovered that the Malagasy
Foreign Minister gave an extensive interview to a Newsweek
-correspondent during which he had specifically identified the,
United States as the government which had interfered in Mala-
gasy affairs, and reiterated the Malagasy iisistence on Ambas-
sador Marshall's withdrawal and the PNGing of the five Embassy
officers. He has also stressed to the Newsweek correspondent
that his government had "irrefutable documentary proof" of
our Embassy's wrong-doing.
In view of this development, which would obviously publicize
this entire matter in a manner most unfavorable to us, we
informed the Foreign Minister that in view of his conversations
with the Newsweek correspondent we felt there was no purpose
in our mission proceeding to Madagascar unless we were allowed
to examine the "evidence." The Foreign Minister responded
that we would "never see the evidence." that they had not
invited our mission in the first place although they were pre-
pared to receive it, that there was nothing to discuss unless
As you know, we have hoped that a special mission to Madagascar
oday that the charges against our personnel were without
foundation, that our mission would not proceed to Tananarive,
that Ambassador Marshall would not return, and that the five
the Friday New York Times, the State Department told the press
t
In view of these developments and the Sulzberger article in
sador.Marshall and the five Embassy officers.
Embassy officers were being withdrawn forthwith.
MORI/CDF
C03352739
No Objection To Declassification 2009/10/09: LOC-HAK-294-3-22-8
 SECRE'~ No Objection To Declassification 2009/10/09: LOC-HAK-294-3-22-8
Our interests in Madagascar are minimal and consist primarily
of a NASA tracking station which NASA no longer wishes to retain.
State has wanted to maintain the station as a possible alternative
should we close the one in South Africa. The Malagasy, of course,.
benefit from the NASA station, and it is by no means clear that
choosing to terminate relations, but State's best judgment is
rive with a Charge at its head. It is, of course, possible
that the Malagasy will react to this latest development by
the five officers, but to maintain a rump Embassy in Tanana
Our current intention is not to replace the Ambassador nor
they will wish to close it.
semi-coherent letter from President Tsiranana to the President
which charges Tony Marshall with being a CIA agent, and incor-
rectly states that the President had promised that he would
reform. We have considered returning this letter as "unac
ceptable," but have decided instead simply to ignore it rather
than further exacerbate our already tenuous relations with
Madagascar and its old, sick and emotionally unstable President.
Among the other developments in this tangled matter was a
No Objection To Declassification 2009/10/09: LOC-HAK-294-3-22-8