ABC News' Michael Falcone reports:

Former U.S Secretary of State Henry Kissinger told ABC News on Wednesday that he "can understand" why Mitt Romney's initial reaction to the violence in the Middle East was "quite severe."

"I think that an attack on an American embassy is always a grave matter," Kissinger said in a telephone interview. "When the attacks take place as a result of an event that's totally out of the control of the United States government, then it is an outrage against our basic values and we cannot - as a government - apologize for what these people construe as a provocation if our government was in no way involved."

Kissinger, who has endorsed Romney and headlined a fundraiser for him this summer in Connecticut, added: "I can understand that the first reaction of Governor Romney was quite severe."

At a news conference in Florida on Wednesday, Romney said it was "disgraceful that the Obama administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks."

Romney was referring to a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo criticizing an anti-Muslim movie that was released before the attacks on America's diplomatic missions in Cairo or Benghazi had taken place.

"I don't think we ever hesitate when we see something in violation of our principles," Romney said.

Kissinger, who served under Presidents Nixon and Ford, said that the Obama administration must now "convey to the governments involved that this is a matter that we take extremely seriously."

The former top diplomat's advice: "Speaking entirely for myself, it would be appropriate to recall our ambassadors for consultation so that they see we are looking at it carefully."

At a fundraiser earlier today in Jacksonville, Fla. Romney invoked Kissinger: "I saw Dr. Kissinger some months ago," Romney said. "I said, 'Dr Kissinger, how is America perceived today in the world? He said one word, 'Weak.' Weak. The world needs American strength."

Asked whether Romney would be wise to highlight his differences with President Obama on foreign policy between now and Election Day, Kissinger told ABC News: "I don't think that Governor Romney should look for opportunities to draw distinction, but where he disagrees and where it's a questions and not just tactics," it would be appropriate, he said.

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Earlier this month, Kissinger co-authored an Op-Ed in the Washington Times with former secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice, James A. Baker and George P. Shultz in which they endorsed the former Massachusetts governor: "He has the experience, strategy and temperament to lead a robust economic recovery and rein in the mounting federal debt that threatens our future. And he fully understands that our prosperity at home is inextricably linked to our influence abroad."