File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation

Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library 6727

·MEMORANDUM - THE WHITE HOUSE

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WASHINGTON

ADMINISTRA TIVELY CONFIDENTIAL

MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION

PAR TICIPANTS: Vladimir S. Alkhimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade

V. Stepanov, Assistant to Alkhimov
Vladimir N. Sushkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade
Mikhail N. Gribkov, Vice President, Trade and
Economic Council
Eugeniy F. Manakhov, President, Almazyuvilirexport
Nickolai V. Zinoviev, Chief of Administration, Ministry
of Foreign Trade
Victor 1. Bessmertny, President, Amtorg
Sergei A. Mkrtumov, USSR Trade Representative in
the U. S.
Viktor K. Boychenko, Director, Intourist
Anatoli P. Dobrynin, Soviet Ambassador in the U. S.

Donald Kendall, Chairman, Pepsi Cola

Howard L. Clark, Chairman, American Express
A. W. Clausen, President, Bank of America
Samuel B. Casey, President, Pullman Inc.
Reginald Jones, Chairman, General Electric
Ben Crane, Partner, Cravath, Swain and Moore
Howard Boyd, Chairman, EI Paso Natural Gas
Raymond Herzog, Chairman, Minnesota Mining and
Manufacturing
Dr. Robert Lesher, President, United States Chamber
of Commerce
Brooks McCormack, Chairman, International
Harvester
Thomas Murphy, Chairman, General Motors
David Packard, Chairman, Hewlett-Packard
Michel Fribourg, President, Continental Grain
Dr. Armand Hammer, Chairman, Occidental
Petroleum

ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL

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William Hewett, Chairman, John Deere

Melvin Holm, Chairman, Carrier Corporation
Edward Kaiser, Chairman, Kaiser Industries
Douglas Kenna, President, National Association
of Manufactur er s
Peter McCullough, President, Xerox Corporation
David Rockefeller, Chairman, Chase Manhattan
Bank
William Miller, Chairman, Textron
Willard Rockwell, Chairman, Rockwell International
Milton Rosenthal, President, Engelhard Minerals
Arthur Santree, President, Combustion Engineering
Irving Shapiro, Chairman, DuPont
William Verity, Chairman, Armco Steel
George Schultz, President, Bechtel
Harold B. Scott, President, US-USSR Trade and
Economic Council, New York ­
John T. Connor, Jr., Senior Vice President, US-USSR
Trade and Economic Council, New York

President Ford
Robert S. Ingersoll, Deputy Secretary of State
Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to the
President for National Security Affairs
Helmut Sonnenfe1dt, Counselor, Department of State
Ambassador Frederick Dent, President's Trade Repr.
Robert Hormats, National Security Council
A. Denis Clift, National Security Council ~

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, October 7, 1975; 11:10 - 11:25 a.m.

PLACE: State Dining Room

The White House

SUBJECT: President's Reception for US-Soviet Directors of

US-USSR Trade and Economic Council

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(The President entered the State Dining Room greeting the US Co-chairman
of the Council, Donald Kendall, and was then introduced by Mr. Kendall
to the Soviet Co-chairman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Vladimir S.
Alkhimov, and the U. S. and Soviet Directors. )

Alkhimov: Mr. President, General Secretary Brezhnev sends his best

wishes to you on the occasion of our meeting here. He has met recently
with visiting US Senators and Congressmen in Moscow, and General Secretary
expresses the hope that you and he will meet soon.

He notes that relations between our two countries are closer, and getting
better and better. As to the trade problems now being discussed in our
Council, General Secretary Brezhnev has asked me to read a message,
which I will do with your permission.

President: Please.

Alkhimov: (Reading Brezhnev message) "I extend my congratulations to

the representatives of the United States and Soviet Union who have gathered
to discuss trade and economic matters. We believe that trade performs a
useful role in improving relations between the United States and Soviet Union,
and that trade should be conducted to the extent of the economic potential of
both countries. This is a noble, but not an easy endeavor. There has been
notable improvement in trade between our countries this year. It is now
at a level of some $1. 7 billion. It is important to ensure a stable flow of
goods in the years ahead. In keeping with this challenge, it is important
to accomplish the necessary steps required to further normalize trade
relations. With the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe now
concluded, there are new opportunities for trade among the participants.
The normalization of trade relations between our countries is in keeping with
the Final Act and the interests of the United States and the Soviet Union. II

(Applause)

President: At the outset, I extend to you and through you to him my very
warm personal greetings to General Secretary Brezhnev. We had beneficial
meetings in Vladivostok, and there was additional progress in Helsinki. I
assure you, through you to him, that with continued work on the Strategic
Arms Limitation Talks I am convinced there will be a successful conclusion
in the relatively near future. There are problems but we will wor k on them.
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Meetings such as this, exchanges involving our Congress, and other

exchanges have a beneficial impact on the developments of relations between

the United Sta tes and the Soviet Union. I remember vividly when the cosmo­

nauts were here in the fall of 1974; we took them to a fish fry in Alexandria,

and gave them a good taste of food from the Chesapeake. All of you know

that I am disappointed with the legislat~ve actions of the U. S. Congress i.n

1974 on trade. These actions have created a road block to desired progress

in our trade relations. The legislation that was passed was ill-conceived, and

accordingly the action taken by the Soviet Union -- we hoped it wouldn't be

taken -- was taken. Our problem now is how to remedy the situation. My

Administration will submit legislation calling for a revision to the existing

law. It is problematical whether the Congress will move, but I assure you

and General Secretary Brezhnev that we believe the legislation should be

remedied.

This group can have a meaningful impact in helping to convince the Congress

of the need for action. Don Kendall and all of you can help. I hope we can

move forward. It is in the best US-Soviet interests to improve relations,

to ease tensions, to continue to move away from the earlier period of con­

frontation, and trade performs a useful role in this.

I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your government in having members of the

House and Senate corne for discussions in Moscow. I understand General

Secretary Brezhnev did have an impact on them. We'll continue to push.

I am going to Knoxville now. Thank you very much.

(Applause)

(The President then conversed privately with Ambassador Dobrynin for 3-4

minutes, then departed. )

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MEMORANDUM

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL

ACTION
October 7, 1975

MEMORANDUM FOR GEN.L:.a.'\.j,-:>,-'U SCOWCROFT

FROM:

SUBJECT: Memorandum of Conver sation

The memorandum of conversation at Tab A covers the Presidentls

October 7 meeting with the US-Soviet Directors of the US-USSR Trade
and Economic Council.

RECOMMENDA TION

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NSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE

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