MORNING REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-548-12-6-4
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: December 18, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/15: LOC-HAK-548-12-6-4
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O 180317Z DEC 73 H ZF -1/4
FM THE S I TUA-T"I ON ROOM TOHAK 121
TO AMEMBASSY LISBON
T O -P S E C R E T/SENSITIVE EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY WH37675.
CONTAINS CODEWORD
TOHAK 121
TO LARRY EAGLEBURGER FOR SECRETARY KISSINGER
TOP SECRET-SENSITIVE -.
CONTAINS CODEWORD DECEMBER 18, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY KISSINGER
FROM: THE SITUATION ROOM
SUBJECT. MORNING,REPORT
HIJACKING OF BOEING 737: LATEST PRESS INFORMATION ON THE
HIJACKING INDICATES THAT THE TERRORISTS HAVE KILLED FOUR OF
THE HOSTAGES ABOARD THE LUFTHANSA AIRCRAFT., THE PLO HAS DE.
NIED ANY CONNECTION WITH TODAY'S EVENTS IN ROME AND ATHENS.
THE AIRCRAFT REMAINS AT THE ATHENS AIRPORTS WHERE TWO PRISONERS
HELD BY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT ARE REPORTEDL-Y BEING TAKEN. THE
HIJACKERS HAVE DEMANDED THEIR RELEASE. AMBASSADOR TASCA.HAS
MADE A STRONG DEMARCHE TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY NOT TO GIVE IN
To THE DEMANDS. AT LEAST 21 PAN AM PASSENGERS REPORTEDLY BURNED
TO DEATH IN THE EARLIER ATTACK IN'ROME.
LE DUC THO ARRIVES IN PARIS: LE DUC THO ARRIVED IN PARIS TODAY.
IN AN AIRPORT STATEMENT THr1 SAID THAT THE U.S.,-AND SAIGON OUGHT
To BEAR FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
AND FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS.
NORTH VIETNAM BEGINS USING DREDGE OUTSIDE HARBOR: PHOTOGRAPHS
TAKEN ON DECEMBER 3 SHOW A SUCTION-TYPE DREDGE WORKING IN HAI-
PHONG'S OUTER BAR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE APPROACHES TO
THE HARBOR WERE CLEARED OF MINES LAST JUNE. SHIPS DRAWING UP
To 23 FEET OF WATER CAN NAVIGATE ACROSS THE OUTER BAR AND THE
APPROACHES TO THE HARBOR AT HIGH TIDE. WHEN THE OUTER BAR AND
MARITIME CANAL ARE DREDGED AN ADDITIONAL TWO FEET, 10,000-TON
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *WHSR COMMENT * * * * * * *- *. *4-*
SECFL
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MORI/CDF
C03342282
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/15: LOC-HAK-548-12-6-4
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 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/15: LOC-HAK-548-12-6-4
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SHIPS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO HAIPHONG.
TRUCK CONVOYS DIMINISH IN LAOTIAN PANHANDLE: THE SURGE OF
TRUCK CONVOYS IN THE LAOTIAN PANHANDLE SEEMS TO HAVE DIMINISHED..
RECENT LOW-ALTITUDE PHOTOGRAPHS OF ROUTE 99 SHOWED 71 SOUTH-
BOUND TRUCKS, MOST OF WHICH WERE COVERED, AND FIVE NORTHBOUND.
THE NEXT DAY ONLY 11 LOADED TRUCKS WERE NOTED GOING SOUTH, AND
133 EMPTY ONES WERE HEADING NORTH. THE NUMBER SEEN EITHER r?AYs
HOWEVER, WAS WELL BELOW THE DECEMBER 4 HIGH OF 780 TRUCKS. THIS
ACTIVITY SUGGESTS THAT THE NORTH VIETNAMESE HAVE EVIDENTLYES-
TABLISHED THEIR DRY-SEASON SUPPLY ROUTINE USING LONG-HAUL SHUT-
TLING BY LARGE CONVOYS..
WASHINGTON STAR-NEWS: A PICTURE OF YOU WITH ABBA EBAN IN A
HELICOPTER IS ON PAGE A-8.
PRESIDENT SADAT IS REPORTEDLY IN BED WITH BRONCHITIS.
ANDREW BOROWIEC WRITES THAT YOUR TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST SHOWS
THE LIMITED WEIGHT OF AMERICAN INFLUENCE IN THE ARAB WORLD,
HE SAYS THE THREE.-DAY DELAY OF THF'GENEVA PEACE CONFERENCE`
DOES NOT SPEAK WELL EITHER FOR YOUR POWERS OF PERSUASION OR
THE GOODWILL OF THE PROTAGONISTS.. YOUR BASIC PLOY IS. TO GET
THE CONFERENCE STARTED ON A POSITIVE NOTE BEFORE THE YEAR'S
END. SADAT MAY BE MORE FLEXIBLE THAN OTHER ARABS B.UT'THAT'
IS MAINLY TO SECURE BETTER ACCESS TO THE TRAPPED THIRD ARMY.
THE SWISS PRESS IS REPORTEDLY CALLING THE POSTPONED CONFERENCE.
"THE PHANTOM CONFERENCE."
UN OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT THE.DECEMBER 21 PEACE CONFERENCE DATE
DOES NOT SOUND MUCH FIRMER THAN THE ORIGINAL DECEMBER 18 ONE'..
THERE HAS BEEN NO SOVIET COMMENT ON A CAIRO REPORT THAT AMBAS--
SADORVINO.GRADOV WILL LEAD THE SOVIET DELEGATION AFTER~GROMYKO'S'
DEPARTURE.
THE U.S. FILED ITS FIRST INDOCHINA PROTEST TO THE ICCS OVER THE
KILLING OF AN UNARMED AMERICAN OFFICER LAST SATURDAY.
CLYDE FARNSWORTHs WRITING ABOUT.THE EUROPEAN.ECONOMIC COMMUNITY,
SAYS THERE ARE GROWING DIFFERENCES. BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND EUROPE
WHICH YOU RECOGNIZED WITH YOUR PROPOSAL LAST WEEK FOR AN INTERNA-4?.
TIONAL ACTION GROUP ON ENERGY.
THE LEAD EDITORIAL POINTS OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PEACE NFGO-
TIATIONS AND SAYS THAT IF THE CONFERENCE GETS OFF TO A REASONABLE'
STARTS MUCH CREDIT WILL BE OWED TO YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS.
MILTON VIORST WRITES THAT ALTHOUGH THE BRITISH HAVE DONE'MUrH.
TO HELP THE ARABS, THEY HAVE GOTTEN NO REWARD FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
HE BELIEVES ISRAEL IS ONLY A PAWN IN A MUCH BIGGER GAMES WHICH
GOES BACK 600 YEARS WHEN THE ARABS RULED THE ENTIRE EAST AND
CAME CLOSE TO OVERRUNNING THE WEST.
JOHN CREWDSON REPORTS THAT A NEW NATIONAL COMMISSION THAT WAS,
CREATED TO REVIEW FEDERAL AND STATE WIRETAPPING IS EXPECTED TO
LOOK INTO THE ADMINISTRATION'S USE OF "SO-CALLED NATIONAL.
SECURITY WIRETAPS." A 15-MAN COMMISSION INCLUDES SENATORS.
MCCLELLAN, HRUSKAs ABOUREZK, AND TAFT.
500
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/15: LOC-HAK-548-12-6-4