THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON

June 30, 1974

Dear Rolf:

It was a nice surprise to find your letter on my desk when I returned from my last trip abroad. It's always good to hear from an old friend. Perhaps we will have a chance to see each other sometime in the future.

Nancy and I appreciate your good wishes and join in sending you and Sandra our very best.

The Honorable
Rolf van Baarda,
Embassy of the Netherlands,
Ankara.

S/db

March 25, 1975

Dear Mr. Minister:

I want you to know how much I appreciated
the opportunity to meet with you during my
brief visit to Brussels March 7. Mrs. Kissinger
and I wish also to thank you and your staff for
all your assistance in arranging this important
visit on such short notice.

My sincere thanks for contributing to its
success.

His Excellency
Renaat Van Elslande,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Brussels.

S:bl

3/15/75

7625554

December 12, 1976

Dear Mr. Minister:

It was a great pleasure to visit Brussels once again for the NATO Ministerial. I owe a very special thanks to you and all your colleagues in the Foreign Ministry whose efforts made the trip both profitable and pleasurable.

Also, thank you for the magnificent Ghent manuscript which you gave me. It will be a treasured reminder of the warm relations between the United States and Belgium. I enjoyed seeing you again and hope that in the years ahead we will be able to stay in touch.

His Excellency
Renaat Antoon Van Elslande,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Brussels.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE
WASHINGTON, D.C.

20520

June 22, 1976

The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
The Secretary of State
Department of State

Dear Mr. Secretary:

On behalf of the Members of the Eighteenth Senior
Seminar in Foreign Policy, I would like to reiterate our
warm thanks to you for meeting with us last week. We were
particularly appreciative that you were so generous with
your time so soon after the tragic assassinations in Beirut.

As you know, the focus of the Seminar's study and
visits in recent months has been on the critical questions
in U.S. foreign and national security policy. Therefore,
it was particularly timely for us to be able to raise some
of these questions directly with you just a few days before
the end of the Seminar.

You did us the honor of expounding your views with
great frankness and comprehensiveness. The result was
an experience that was as enjoyable for us as it was
uniquely enriching for our understanding of the conception
and application of U.S. foreign policy, including the
responsibilities of the Congress and the American people.

The hour with you constituted a memorable climax to
the ten-month process of equipping Seminar Members to
serve the U.S. Government both at home and abroad with
renewed dedication, and a much more knowledgeable apprecia-
tion of the strengths of our nation and of the challenges
which face it.

Best wishes for your continued success.

SENIOR SEMINAR IN FOREIGN POLICY • TEL. (703) 235-8766/7

CHARLES A. VANIK
TWENTY-SECOND DISTRICT, OHIO

2371 RAYBURN BUILDING
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-6331

MEMBER:
COMMITTEE ON WAYS
AND MEANS
SUBCOMMITTEES:
OVERSIGHT, CHAIRMAN
HEALTH

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

U.S. COURT HOUSE
CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114
(216) 522-4253

SUITE 222
5031 MAYFIELD ROAD
LYNDHURST, OHIO 44124
(216) 522-4252

December 8, 1975

The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Secretary;

For over 13 years, Mark Talisman has been my Admini-
strative Assistant. I regret to report that he is
now leaving my office -- but I am pleased to report
that he will be taking a position as Washington
Director of the Council of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds.

I hope you will join me in a reception to say good-bye
to Mark as he leaves his old job and to welcome him
in his new position.

We are planning a party on December 16th, in B-340 Rayburn
from 5:30 to 7:00. I hope you can attend.

Please RSVP
Call Pat, 225-8033

THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE WITH RECYCLED FIBERS

7318756

DEN HAAG, September 24th, 1973

SMIDSWATER 1

TEL. 070-653850

PROF. DR E. H. VAN DER BEUGEL

STRICTLY PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

My dear Henry,

I feel a little embarrassed to ask you a personal
favour during weeks, which for you will certainly be
a permanent avalanche.

On the evening of November 11th (a Sunday in prime
TV time) I will be interviewed (life) for 40 minutes
on matters of foreign policy.

My interrogator, Henk Neumann, is a good friend of mine
and a highly intelligent and responsible man.

In discussing the program it occurred to Neumann that,
knowing that we are old friends, you might consider to
come into the program in the following way.

Neumann and I would discuss certain points, but before
doing so, you might introduce the subject for a few
minutes.

What we propose is that your introductions would be taped
at *any time* and at *any place* which would be convenient
for you before the first week of November.

The 3 subjects we have in mind are:

a) My generation has lived through 3 rather simple periods:

1933-1940 The issue was whether one saw or not saw what
Germany was up to

1940-1945 The issue was winning the war.

1945- beginning of the sixties: the Western World was
led by the U.S. That leadership was in general
accepted by the Western World and in the U.S.

We now live in a much more complicated situation. Why?

-2-

PROF. DR E. H. VAN DER BEUGEL

SMIDSWATER 1

TEL. 070-653850

b) The NATO strategic doctrine is perhaps (and even that is uncertain) understood by a very small elite, but certainly not by our public opinions.
What can be done to remedy this?

c) Trade, monetary affairs and security are closely linked and the imperative is that governments - even when they are compelled technically to deal with them in different negotiating milieus - should treat them in one strategy, and not through fragmented experts.

The purpose of this note is to ask you whether you would be willing to introduce these subjects (or if these subjects are not convenient for you, others) in a couple of minutes. Your words would then be the key of my interview.

If you would be willing "en principe", the best thing then is that you indicate with whom of your staff Neumann could get in touch.

Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
The White House
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S.A.

133

Dr.Dr.h.c. Kurt Birrenbach

Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestages

INGEKOMEN

4 FEB. 1974

53 Bonn

Bundeshaus

Fernruf 16

Die Wahl dieser Rufnummer vermittelt den gewünschten Hausanschluß.

Kommt ein Anschluß nicht zustande, bitte
Nr. 161 (Bundeshaus-Vermittlung) anrufen.

4 Düsseldorf, den 1. Februar 1974

Berliner Allee 33

Herrn

Prof. Ernst H. van der Beugel

50 van Ouwenlaan

Den Haag / Holland

Lieber Ernst!

Haben Sie herzlichen Dank für die Zusendung des außergewöhn-
lich interessanten Artikels von Walter Laqueur "The idea
of Europe runs out of gas". Er ist von großer Schärfe, aber
leider richtig. Ich habe das Empfinden, als wenn die fran-
zösische Entscheidung viel grundsätzlicherer Natur ist, als
sie sich lediglich im Ausscheiden aus der Währungsschlange
ausdrückt. Es drückt sich hierin der alte Gaullismus aus,
nur von schwächeren Persönlichkeiten repräsentiert. In Wahr-
heit ist dies aber Frankreich. Eine Alternative zu dem
jetzigen Regime in einem positiven Sinne gibt es nicht.
Die Mitte ist zu schwach. England ist zur Zeit nicht inte-
grationsfähig. Die Bemerkungen über das englisch-amerikani-
sche Verhältnis sind richtig. Zum Teil ist dies bedingt durch
die Absprache Pompidou/Heath im Mai 1971, die England den
Eintritt in die Europäische Gemeinschaft eröffnet hat. Ich
halte die britische Lage für so kritisch und das Europa-
Engagement aus diesem Grunde für so schwach, daß die Briten
als führender Faktor überhaupt zur Zeit nicht in Frage
kommen. Sie sind wirklich der oder einer der "sick men of
Europe". Die Bundesregierung ist zwar europäisch engagiert,
wenn auch die Prioritäten sich nach der von der westlichen
Welt so applaudierten Ostpolitik etwas verschoben haben.

- 2 -

- 2 -

Diese Verschiebung hat ihre eigene Dynamik. Über Trends innerhalb der Koalitionsparteien möchte ich hier kein Wort verlieren. Sie werden zur Zeit von der überwiegenden Mehrheit der Bevölkerung nicht gutgeheißen, aber nicht genügend bekämpft. Nur eine militante Demokratie ist dieses Namens wert. Über Italien brauche ich nichts zu sagen. Die Schlüsselrolle des linken Flügels der Democrazia Cristiana, die diese immer wieder an die Seite der Sozialisten und in Richtung auf die Möglichkeit einer losen Kooperation mit der KPI führt, ist bekannt. In wirtschaftlicher und sozialer Hinsicht ist das Land als Ganzes einer vollen Integration auch heute noch nicht fähig. Die Benelux-Länder kennen Sie besser. Ein trostloses Bild. Der Anfangssatz von Laqueur ist bemerkenswert. Auf amerikanischer Seite werden schwere psychologische Fehler begangen. Der Hauptschuldige ist meines Erachtens der Präsident. Seit dem 6. Oktober ist es ganz wenigen Figuren, darunter Kissinger und Schlesinger, gelungen, den Détente-Kurs gegenüber der Sowjetunion abzuschwächen. Hier haben wohl Fehleinschätzungen vorgelegen, die mir nicht ganz verständlich sind, es sei denn, daß auch diese auf den Einfluß von N. zurückzuführen sind. Die psychologische Behandlung der Europäer durch unsere amerikanischen Freunde ist nicht sehr geschickt. Aus dieser allein könnten sich Gefahren ergeben. Das europäisch-amerikanische Verhältnis ist, wie Sie aus allen meinen Artikeln ersehen haben, Gegenstand meiner tiefsten Sorge. Worauf setzen wir im Augenblick eigentlich unsere Hoffnungen? Auf Europa, das möglicherweise auf eine Zollunion zurückfällt, und die Vereinigten Staaten? Klar sieht man erst, wenn das konstitutionelle Problem gelöst ist. Sie sehen, wie ernst ich die Lage beurteile. Die Wohlstandsgesellschaft zehrt langsam die Substanz der europäischen Völker auf. Sie haben kein Gefühl mehr für die entscheidenden Werte, die ihren Bestand auf die Dauer erst garantiieren würden. Vieles, wenn nicht alles ist ins Schwimmen

- 3 -

VAN DER BEUGEL, E.H. Dr. [LC]

BILDERBERG MEETINGS

STRICTLY PERSONAL

THE HAGUE, March 18, 1974

SMIDSWATER 1

TELEPHONE 46 21 21

TELEGRAMS BILDERMEETINGS

My dear Henry,

I read this morning in the newspapers (and you cannot
totally exclude the possibility that they are correct)
that you plan one of your many holidays in the Mid East
on April 20th.

The main days of Bilderberg in Megève are 19th and 20th
April and I wonder whether a combination would be
possible.

I write you this because it becomes more and more
clear that Megève will be one of the very few non-
published dialogues between Europeans and between
Europeans and Americans.

The list of participants is very good indeed. You will
have received it in the meantime, but probably not seen it.

It was so nice to talk to you and even nicer to
see Nancy.

The Hon. Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
The White House
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S.A.

STRICTLY PERSONAL

VAN DER BEUGEL, E.H. Dr.

BILDERBERG MEETINGS

THE HAGUE, March 21, 1974

SMIDSWATER 1
TELEPHONE 46 21 21

TELEGRAMS BILDERMEETINGS

My dear Henry,

Knowing that you are looking forward to my letters
in order to have some activity during the day I have,
with reference to my letter of March 18th, still some
additional news about Bilderberg.

The foreign ministers of the Nine, "God beware us",
meet informally in Bonn in the afternoon of Saturday,
April 20th. Van der Stoel and Scheel, who from the Nine
will attend the Megève Meeting, will therefore spend
Friday 19th at Megève and fly back to Bonn on April 20th.
If you would not be able to spend all the time in Megève
and would choose one day, there is therefore perhaps
some merit in seeing them at the conference on Friday 19th.
On the other hand, however, there are many good Europeans
attending the full conference who have not the disadvantage
of being foreign ministers.

It might amuse you to know that Giscard d'Estaing has
made his attendance dependant on your presence.
Is there a better proof of the intimate Franco-American
relation?

Don't be too lazy.

June 30, 1974

Dear Ernst:

I am sorry that I could not meet with the group in Megeve, but am glad to hear that Hal Sonnenfeldt and Winston Lord's performance was excellent.

I appreciate your thoughts on Europe and the problems that face us.

Thank you for the comments on Nancy's interview. We both look forward to seeing you soon.

Professor Dr. E. H. Van Der Beugel,
Smidswater 1,
The Hague, Netherlands.

S/GK

STRICTLY PERSONAL

PROF. DR E. H. VAN DER BEUGEL

DEN HAAG, April 29, 1974

SMIDSWATER 1
TEL. 070-653850

The Hon. Henry A. Kissinger
The Department of State
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
U.S.A.

I was extremely happy to receive your picture and I sincerely thank you for it and for the nice words you wrote on it, which I deeply value.

I am so much looking forward to seeing Nancy and you as Mr. and Mrs. Kissinger. I found Nancy's interview in the Herald exemplary.

A few words about Megève.

We were sad to miss you and happy to have Helmut and Winston.

It was an extremely good and useful meeting for all concerned, with a very frank and sometimes revealing discussion.

Winston did not say much; what he said was excellent. Helmut's three interventions belong to the highlights of the meeting. What he said about the character of U.S. support for European unity was exactly right for my ears, but strangely enough quite a shocker for many Europeans, and especially for the Germans. They are so terribly spoilt, that they were deeply unhappy when Helmut very rightly said that it is not U.S. policy any more to support European unity per se.

PROF. DR E. H. VAN DER BEUGEL

DEN HAAG. - 2 -

SMIDSWATER 1

TEL. 070-65 38 50

Let me very briefly give you my own opinion - not based on the Megève Meeting, but confirmed by it. I am afraid that we will be confronted by the following scenario in Europe.

1. There will be no fundamental changes in French foreign policy, whoever will win the election.

2. After the election they will follow a "pseudo policy" of progress in the European community. Jobert has already started this.

3. By doing so they will:

a) push the British out. That will not be very difficult because the British like, it seems to me, to be pushed out anyway. The French will, however, make it very easy for them.

b) regain some kind of leadership in Europe. The Europeans are so totally starved by progress of European unification that they will cheer any initiative. This goes especially for the Germans, the Italians, the Belgians and the Dutch. They will be totally uncritical about the unchanged aims and goals of French policies and will fall for "movement per sé".

c) avoid the basic mistake of De Gaulle to combine being anti-American, anti-British and anti-European at the same time, and by concentrating on the first two goals, they will use the European (read German) hunger for movement in Europe to achieve their crazy aims.

PROF. DR E. H. VAN DER BEUGEL

DEN HAAG, - 3 -
SMIDSWATER 1
TEL. 070-65 38 50

This is quite a nightmare because we will then
be back to the worst days.

The difference with all previous periods is that there
will be an absolute minimum of support for the British
position, notably with their traditional supporters
on the Continent. I can't blame these former supporters
because the British attitude is arrogant, insular and
parochial.

Nevertheless, I consider their exit as bad in every
respect, even taken into account that Heath's attitude
was not helpful either, to say the least.

We know, dear friend, each other's attitude toward
European integration and American post-war policy
very well, and we always agreed, even when we were in
a total minority position.

There is a good and convincing case to be made for
total American abstention from this scenario, which
I so much fear.

Nevertheless I think, on long reflection, that the
U.S. should be active in preventing this scenario.
It is not in the American interest to see the Germans
again tied up with the French and see their European
option further reduced.

It is not in the American interest to see the British out,
because in spite of the fact that neither the Conservatives
nor Labour have been helpful in the least, it is still
an Atlantic interest that they are in, because from
time to time they will stop the greatest French
nonsense.

PROF. DR E. H. VAN DER BEUGEL

DEN HAAG, - 4 -

SMIDSWATER 1

TEL. 070-653850

If you agree with this, I find it very difficult
to judge whether this can be done by the U.S., and
if so, how.

I think that the British should understand that their posi-
tion outside the communities will not give them any
benefit, and that their relation with the U.S. will not
be improved. They can have all bilateral contacts they
like when they remain inside.

As to the Germans, they should know, in my opinion,
that movement with the French alone will be harmful to
their relations with the U.S., and that this implies
an open ear for the British position, even if this
position is not very reasonable.

I was again very much impressed by the Germans in
Megève. Karl Kaiser, Ted Sommer, Helmut Schmidt and Kiep
really were impressive. They are at the same time the
key country in Europe and utterly uneasy about the
environment in which they operate. We should help them
as much as possible.

These are loosely connected thoughts, but I feel
so concerned that I wanted you to know them.

A chat would be helpful. I will be in N.Y. from Friday,
17th of May to Monday evening, May 20th.

Love and warmest greetings to both of you.

PROF. DR E. H. VAN DER BEUGEL

LB

DEN HAAG, 5th July 1974

SMIDSWATER 1

TEL. 070-653850

My dear Henry,

Why do you prefer a lousy soccer game to meeting me??

I will be in New York on July 29th, 30th and 31st. Could we have dinner together in New York or Washington the 30th or 31st? Kitty will probably also approach you.

I am terribly keen to talk with you and even keener to hear how Nancy's health is.

Bless you,

PERSONAL

cc. The White House