The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger Secretary-Designate Department of State Washington, D.
C.
Dear Henry:
I would like to join the many who cheer your appointment as Secretary of
State. We need a good teacher who can explain, especially through the
press, the complexities of our foreign affairs to the American people
and win their support. I know of no one as good at this as you are.
I would also like to reiterate my desire to serve on here as long as you
and the President want me. Secretary Rogers and others in the
Department have implied that I would be replaced sometime this year. It
was their policy to encourage those of us nearing or over sixty to
retire — and I did as of last January 31st, with the understanding that
it would not affect my appointment here.
I believe I understand and am accepted by the Indonesians as few if any
other foreigners are and that this is worth something to us. Feeling as
I do at the peak of my physical and professional powers, I would prefer
to go on working in some way that would make use of my accumulated
experience on Indonesia and this part of the world generally. The best
use I can make of it, I feel, is as Ambassador here.
Thanks to the interest and support of the President and yourself, and
those in the Department of State and elsewhere in the U.S. Government,
our relations with Indonesia have gone well during my time here. The
most salient features of those relations have been and are: (a)
Indonesian appreciation of our lead in the fields of economic and
military assistance (b) the growth of U.S. investment and business
interest and the concomitant growth in demand for my Embassy's guidance
and support from the American business community here (c) Indonesia's
emergence as leader in the region (d) Indonesia's accommodation to our
posture in the Asian Pacific area in the context of its own nonaligned
posture and Indonesia's wish for closer bilateral ties with Japan,
Australia and the United States in the context of a recognized common
interest and tacitly agreed strategy.
During any future trip you may make to this part of the world, I hope it
will be possible for you to visit us here. Should you come here, my wife
and I would be particularly pleased if you would stay with us at the
Residence and allow us to show you something of this country — one of
mankind's most benign and beautiful environments. President Suharto and Foreign Minister Adam
Malik and others here would also welcome your visit. They like to be
reassured that we take them into consideration as we chart our policies.
Indeed they want a close, albeit nonaligned relationship and would be
pleased at your attention.
And when you have the opportunity to think about what you want to do
about this Ambassadorial post — whether to leave me here or replace me —
I would be grateful for word from you that will allow me to plan
accordingly.
With the beginnings you have already made in opening up an era of
peaceful coexistence and expanding trade and other intercourse between
east and west, I am sure you will be one of our greatest Secretaries. I
would like to help you in any way I can to realize the potential of the
initiatives the President and you have taken.
Warm regards.
Sincerely,
[signed] Francis J.
Galbraith Ambassador
1 Source:
National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Far East, Box 533, Indonesia,
Volume 4, 1 January 1973–. Confidential; Eyes Only; Personal.
David Newsom
replaced Galbraith as Ambassador in February 1974.