CABLE TO GENERAL SCOWCROFT FROM SECRETARY KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-259-6-8-0
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 4, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: May 5, 1974
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/04: LOC-HAK-259-6-8-0
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3 4 3 5 /SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY 050824Z MAY 74
I IMED IATE
HAKTO 40
`'AY 5,
1974
TO:
GENERAL SCOWCROFT
FROM:
SECRETARY KISSINGER
PLEASE PASS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT:
BEGIN TEXT
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
WE HAVE REACHED THE CRUCIAL STAGE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE
ISRAELI CABINET MEETING SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL BE CRITICAL IN
DETERMINING IN LARGE MEASURE THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THINGS WILL
TAKE. IN MY MEETING WITH MRS. MEIR AND HER CLOSEST CABINET COLLEAGUES
(ALLON, DAYAN AND EBAN) AND IN A 1:00 AM PRIVATE MEETING WITH
HER SU3SEQUENTLY, I ONCE AGAIN REVIEWED THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH
MAKE IT ESSENTIAL THAT THE CABINET DECIDE ON A POSITION THAT IS
WITHIN NEGOTIATING RANGE AND THAT I CAN PRESENT TO ASAD AS SUCH.
PRIOR TO THESE MEETINGS, I HAD SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY WITH SADAT
REVIEWING WHERE MATTERS STAND. HE WAS DISPLEASED BOTH WITH THE
SYRIAN AND THE ISRAELI POSITION. SADAT HAS A VITAL STAKE IN THE
ACHIEVEMENT OF A SYRIAN-ISRAELI DISENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT SINCE HE
FULLY REALIZES THAT TO FAIL AT THIS JUNCTURE WOULD NOT ONLY REVERSE
ALL THE POSITIVE TRENDS IN THE AREA BUT WOULD IN FACT EXPOSE HIM
TO THE RADICAL TENDENCIES IN THE AREA WHICH HE WOULD BE
FORCED TO JOIN IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. HE BELIEVES THAT IF
IT IS POSSIBLE TO SECURE ISRAELI AGREEMENT TO A LINE THAT INCLUDES
SOME MODEST MODIFICATIONS IN THE OCTOBER 6 LINE INCLUDING ALL OF
QUNE ITRA HE CAN HELP MOBILIZE KEY ARAB SUPPORT AND WILL HIMSELF
EXERCISE INFLUENCE ALSO TO GET SYRIAN AGREEMENT. I SUGGESTED THAT
TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS THAT I SEND A MEMBER OF MY PARTY, HAROLD
SAUNDERS, TO JIDDA AND ALGIERS TO TALK TO FAISAL AND BOUMEDIENE.
SADAT AGREED AND MADE AVAILABLE A CLOSE ASSISTANT OF HIS, ASHRAF
M ARWAN, W}.. .-. .. r..r,.? r: r. r+IfI VC-1 TA7 1'Ut. t' TWA tiADT'1"AI C
l t' No Objection to Declassification in Part2009/12/04: LOC-HAK-259-6-8-0
MORI/CDF
C03344658
State Dept. review
completed
 SAD AT Mr' m rAR 'rl4&F ?F THE ISRAELIS WOULD ACCEPT THIS
RDPSS$ L }, No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/04: LOC-HAK-259-6-8-0 'IPAL
KEY ARABS BUT HE WOULD A'b AGREE TO SUPPORT IT PLY. MOREOVER,
SADAT SAID THAT ONCE SYRIAN-ISRAELI DISENGAGEMENT IS ACHIEVED, HE
IS PREPARED TO EMBARK ON A SERIOUS NEGOTIATION WITH THE ISRAELIS ON A
SECOND PHASE.
I DESCRIBED THIS STRATEGY FULLY TO THE ISRAELIS LAST NIGHT AS
WELL AS ASAD'S REACTIONS TO OTHER ELEMENTS OF A DISENGAGEMENT
AGREEMENT, MOST OF WHICH I POINTED OUT ARE NEGOTIABLE BUT WOULD
INVOLVE A VERY HEAVY STRUGGLE INDEED.
THE DECISION THE ISRAELI CABINET MUST MAKE TODAY IS WHETHER
I CAN TAKE AN ISRAELI POSITION TO DAMASCUS LATE MONDAY NIGHT OR
TUESDAY MORNING AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ABOVE PROPOSITION.
MY IMPRESSIN IS THAT THE ISRAELIS WILL BE WILLING TO DRAW THE
LINE SO THAT THE EASTERN PART OF QUNEITRA WILL BE UNDER SYRIAN
CIVIL ADMINISTRATION WITH THE WESTERN PART UNDER THE UN. THIS
IS INSUFFICIENT IN MY JUDGMENT. IT WILL EVEN BE CONSIDERED AN INSULT
BY ASAD. IF THIS PROVES TO BE THE FINAL WORD AT THIS JUNCTURE WE
WILL THEN HAVE TO DEVELOP A COURSE OF ACTION WHICH MINIMIZES THE
ADVERSE IMPACT ON US AND AT LEAST SLOWS DOWN THE PROBABLE ADVERSE
TREND INIMICABLE TO OUR INTERESTS. I WOULD THEN RETURN HOME FAIRLY
QUICKLY.
YOUR LETTER ARRIVED SUNDAY EVENING AS I WAS MEETING WITH MRS.
?HEIR AND I BELIEVE HELPED IMMENSELY IN BRINGING TO MRS. MEIR AND
HER COLLEAGUES THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION ISRAEL FACES.
I MEET WITH MRS. MEIR AND A LARGER NUMBER OF CABINET MEMBERS
THIS MORNING BEFORE I GO ON TO AMMAN, RETURNING TO ISRAEL ONCE
AGAIN ON MONDAY.
END TEXT
WARM REGARDS.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/12/04: LOC-HAK-259-6-8-0