Die ID: 6898345 FOP SECREEUMBRA- JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION DaTeE: 10/09/98 Pace:1 AGENCY : NSA RECORD NUMBER : 144-10001-10305 RECORDS SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : NSA — FROM : NSA (iii) . 0: HCO 2020 een resceereeeee TITS $n 3/of]razsa83] = SYRIAN COMMENTS ON POPE'S TRIP rR] DATE : 12/14/63 PAGES : 2 SUBJECTS : ASSASSINATION, JOHN KENNEDY DOCUMENT TYPE : PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : F -_ RESTRICTIONS : 1B CURRENT STATUS : X DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 07/24/98 OPENING CRITERIA : ORIGINATING AGENCY'S DETERMINATION REQUIRED COMMENTS : [R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED DRV FM: NSA/CSS Manual 123-2 Dated: 24 February 1998 DECL ON: X1,X3,X5,X6,X7,X8 FOP-SEECREFUMBRA- Released on 11-02-2017 under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2017 Note)
“ Doc ID: 6598345 WS 10234-37 Oe Dist; HOF 7" St 300... , eee eee ee ee . 44USC2107(5)(g)(2)(D) [Ss SYRIAN’ COMMENTS ON POPE'S TRIP. at eawe greece STE 11 Dec 63 (4-part message complete] When the Syrians learned that the Sovereign Pontiff: had decided to go to Jerusalem, they hastened to-express: their satisfaction, as they always do every time, they note any: sign of interest whatsoever shown by foreign countries with regard to the Near East. Then they went on to,express the hope that the Pope would not fail to note, during his pilgrimage, ‘the: harm which Israel had done to the hee people of palesteige. Finally, the tone iniiyhich the Israeli radio, which is listened to\'h here more than is acknowledged, praised the event prompted them to formulate a few reservations, and a Damascus newspaper went so far as to wonder whether President KENNEDY's assassination, the attempts, ‘made in the Council to reinstate the Jewish people, and finally the pontifical: ‘pilgrimage were not all part of a plot instigated by Zionism to eae eae the diversion of the waters’ ‘of the Jordan. I did not think’ ‘te necessary to report; these reactions, which were as ridiculous as they were inevitable, to the Department, since’ ‘I preferred to wait[ adopt | a position by engaging in conversation first with the Chargé d' Affairs of the Holy See, then with the Apostolic Internuncis6;.,,who hurriedly returned last night from Rome. This morning, on leaving the’ ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monséignor PUNZOLO was good enough to relate to me the.conversation which he had had with’ ‘the Minister. Mr. MURAYID protested in rather moderate terms against the fact that Israel is seeking to exploit the Ts 3/0} _}m254~63 THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS 2 PAGE(S) Released on 11-02-2017 under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2017 Note)
*” Doc ID: 6598345 44USC2107(5)(g)(2)(D) b(iii) | | ee —_ Blot ladse-« 63 pilgrimage: he expressed the hope that the’ on although ‘it is to take place partly in Israel;° would not- imply. ‘recognition of that state by the Holy See. .Pinally, he stated. that the Syrian Government wished to invite PAUL VI to. visit, Damascus, the city of Saint Paul, daring his trip. ~ The Apostolic ‘Tirecaunele told me that he: had evaded this last point by “suggesting that the invitation,, ‘which will certainly be refused, be made by the Syrian Embassy at’ the Holy See. gave me the impression, with regard to nonrecognition, that he had reassured the Syrian Minister. ‘and.’ had given him to understand that the Holy See itself was hardly- pleased with the manner in which Israel was seéking,"to exploit the Pope's pilgrimage. Talking with me on this matter, he was altogether frank, going so far as to’ Say that the Israelis would be well advised not to go tod far along the path which they have entered, if they do not.’ want to run the risk of a serious setback and wish_to avotd having made "so many (B val noisy preparations) " I wonder, since I know a little,’ about Rome, whether the Holy See has addressed Tel Aviv in such plain language, but I confess that I was surprised by that which I heard from the mouth of a prelate w. ‘just received his latest instructions from the Secretariat the previous day. 44USC2107(5)(g)(2)(D) d(ii)