I AM IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING VARIOUS FORCES FOR WHAT I BELIEVE WILL BE MY CLIMACTIC MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ASAD ON SUNDAY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 63
• Publication Date: May 9, 1974
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
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 V No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
All r)
SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY/EYES Only
FROM: THE SECRETARY
May 9, 1974
HAKTO_~ -7~
FOR: GENERAL SCOWCROFT
AY 3 ~ 2'7 ' 2i '7q
Please convey the following to the President:
1. I am in the process of organizing various
forces for what I believe will be my C i 6c" meeting
with President Asad on Sunday. Yesterday I brought
the Israeli position to Asad which represented an
advance over the past Israeli proposals. I informed
Asad of I~W Israe7;S willingness to draw its defense
line west of the entire city of Kuneitra. While this
represents improvement, the fact is that when one
sx1yxnsxtkox analyzes the current Israeli withdrawal proposal,
for all practical purposes it is not much more than a
symbolic pullback from the line that existed just before
the war of October 1973. Moreover, under the Israeli
proposal Asad could not( oa t return his civilians to
Kuneitra and the Israeli defense line would be at the edge
of the city -- in fact along one of the city streets.
Thus
some further Israeli concessions are clearly
necessary. All this would be far short of Syrian demands.
2. I had further discussions with Mrs. Meir and the
key members of her Cabinet last night/and the current Israeli
mood is resistant to any additional concessions.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
 FFFF No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
-2-
3. I will be meeting with them again Friday evening
to review the situationland on the basis of the Cabinet-
approved position I will be presenting the Syrians on Sunday
with a few additional modifications that draw$ the line west
of the October line in a couple of places. For example, i
tJW are willing for the UN to take over their positions on
the highest peaks on Mount Hermon. Whether I can get
something more from the Israelis on Friday is doubtful. A4. I will, of course, make a major effort with-
46- /~-fad.
If the above Israeli position proves insufficient, the Israelis
then will 40 face
ritical choice:to permit the negotiations
to reach an impasse and thereby face the probability of
an escalated attritional tIMM resumption of hostilities
40
on the Golan Heights, or face up to giving up another kilometer
or so of territory which would not affect their security
adversely but would require giving up some of the cultivated
fields attached to settlements they established near
Kuneitra in 1968. Again, I am struck with the lack of
flexibility which the domestic situation in Israel causes,
and wiee the lack of responsibility which stakes
risks
the American position in the Middle East and makes an enhanced
role for the Soviet Union on a kilometer s
here and there
and on the vagaries of Israeli domestic politics. At the
same time, Asad, who seems to want a disengagement agreement,
also has internal pressures
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
v SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY 3
which concern him. He stressed repeatedly that he must have the kind
of disengagement agreement which he can explain to his people after
26 years of struggle and not provide the opponents in his regime an
opportunity to upset him.
5. My efforts in the last forty-eight hours have been designed
to keep the Russians essentially neutralized and non-involved -- this
was the principal result of my meeting with Gromyko in CyprusA and
preparing the groundwork for Saudi intervention in Damascus in support
of the position that I will be presenting to Asad on Sunday. My
conversation with Faisal today indicated that the Saudis are prepared
to be helpful. Saqqaf , the Foreign Minister, publicly endorsed
your foreign policy and our stand on disengagement. Faisal Qi not
have been lore Mummix There is a good chance that
the Saudis will send an emissary to Damascus to weigh in on the side
of moderation. I was also able to announce at the conclusion of my
Saudi visit here today, the visit of Prince Fahd to Washington on
May 24, which reflects the progress we are making in establishing a basis
for long-term economic, scientific, technical and military supply cooperation
between Saudi Arabia and the United States.
6. Tonight I will be going to Cairo for further talks with
Sadat and concerting with the Egyptians on ways in which they
will exercise their influence in Damascus.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
 Fpp No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
q.p
7. There is still a chance for an agreement but it is tough
going.
-t,( 0
Warm regards.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
IV
SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY/EYES ONLY
May 9, 1974
HAKTO
FOR: GENERAL SCOWCROFT
FROM: THE SECRETARY
Please convey the following to the President:
1. I am in the process of organizing various
forces for what I believe will be my climatic meeting
with President Asad on Sunday. Yesterday I brought
the Israeli position to Asad which represented an
advance over the past Israeli proposals. I informed
Asad of the Israeli willingness to draw its defense
line west of the entire city of Kuneitra. While this
represents improvement, the fact is that when one
analyzes the current Israeli withdrawal proposal,
for all practical purposes it is not much more than a
symbolic pullback from the line that existed just before
the war of October 1973. Moreover, under the Israeli
proposal Asad could not return his civilians to Kuneitra
and the Israeli defense line would be at the edge of
the city-
2. I had further discussions with Mrs. Meir and the
key members of her Cabinet last night and the current
Israeli mood is resistant to any additional concessions.
3. I will be meeting with them again Friday evening
to review the situation and on the basis of the Cabinet approved
.4.. 4; t /1Lc
ni? +., r -i.,. . ;c;,-.,+;,- , ; , o.,,-+')ni ninai'o ? I nr' u A V 7FO a a, o
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
W -
SECRET/SENSITIVE 2
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
position I will be presenting the Syrians on Sunday with a few
October line in a couple of places. For example, they are
for
willing on the UN to take over their positions on the highest
peaks on Mount Hermon. Whether I can get something more from
the Israelis on Friday is doubtful.
4. I will, of course, make a major effort with Asad.
If the above Israeli position proves insufficient, the Israelis
then will face a critical choice to permit the negotiations
to reach an impasse and thereby face the probability of an escalated
attritional type resumption of hostilities on the Golan Heights,
or face up to giving up another kilometer or so of territory
which would not affect their security adversely.but would require
giving up some of the cultivated fields attached to settlements
they established near Kuneitra in 1968. Again, I am struck with
the lack
of flexibility which the domestic situation in Israel
es ~
causes, At/the same time, Asad, who seems to want a disengagement
agreements also has internal pressur
e
4.'?^-~'"~.,. A. ~-"4-^ ?-^`~'~-~a~Z.~" 1.. - "" ... rte.. ~ L...ffff -- vL d'.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
disengagement agreement which he can
IVI-
which concern him. /Axad stresse he must`,have the kind of
y and riot
provide the opponents in his regime
- an.. gxpok?kxxx&
xmIxti opportunity to upset him.
5. My efforts in the last forty-eight hours have
been designed to keep the Russians essentially neutralized
and non-involved--this was the principal result of my
meeting with Gromyko in Cyprus, and preparing the
groundwork for Saudi intervention in Damascus in support
of the position that I will be presenting to Asad on Sunday.
My conversation with Faisal today indicated that the Saudis
are prepared to be helpful. I was also able to announce
at the conclusion of my Sau i visit here tdday,the visit
of Prince Fahd to Washingto on May 24, which reflects
the progress we are making in establishing a basis
for long-term economic, sc entific, technical and military
supply cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States.
6. Tonight I will be going to Cairo for further
talks with Sadat and conce ting with the Egyptians on
ways in which they will ex rcise their influence in
Damascus.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9 ~"?
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9
SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/29: LOC-HAK-259-6-63-9