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NOW IN ADDITION TO THAT BASIC ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN WASHINGTON, I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT ASSISTANT SECRETARY SISCO AND HAROLD SAUNDERS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY STAFF OF THE WHITE HOUSE ARE EN ROUTE TO ISRAEL NOW. THEY WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN ISRAEL. I EXPECT, ALL THINGS BEING AS THEY NOW ARE, THAT MESSRS. SISCO AND SAUNDERS WILL JOIN THE SECRETARY AND HIS PARTY SOMETIME TOMORROW IN JORDAN.

NOW, LET ME SAY THAT IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRIP OF MESSRS. SISCO AND SAUNDERS TO ISRAEL, THAT WE HAVE... AS BACKGROUND FOR THAT, WE HAVE DEVELOPED SOME IDEAS HERE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT ON BOTH SHORT, OR I SHOULD SAY PERHAPS, IMMEDIATE AND LONGER RANGE PROBLEMS, AND THAT WE WANTED TO DISCUSS THESE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN ISRAEL.

I'LL BE GLAD TO TRY TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS AS FOLLOW-UPS TO THOSE TWO POINTS.

Q. WHEN DID MESSRS. SISCO AND SAUNDERS LEAVE HERE?

A. THEY LEFT SOMETIME THIS AFTERNOON, THEY WENT VIA CYPRUS. WE HAD WORD JUST BEFORE I CAME DOWN THAT THEY HAVE DEPARTED CYPRUS SO THAT HEY SHOULD BE IN ISRAEL WITHIN THE HOURS.

Q. DOES THE DISCUSSION YOU MENTIONED INCLUDE OPENING OF THE BLOCKADED THIRD ARMY AND LIFTING OF THE BLOCKADE IN BAB EL-MANDAB?

A. I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IT WON'T BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DETAIL THESE MATTERS FOR YOU INASMUCH AS THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL. AS YOU KNOW, OR AT LEAST, THE AMERICAN PRESS TRAVELLING WITH THE SECRETARY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, THAT BEFORE WE LEFT WASHINGTON WE SAID THAT AT SOME POINT MR. SISCO, AT LEAST, WOULD GO TO ISRAEL SOMETIME AFTER OUR STOP HERE IN CAIRO. NOW, THAT HAS DEVELLPED SOONER THAN PERHAPS WQ8 FIRST ANTICIPATED, AND WE THOUGHT THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL WOULD WELCOME SOME DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE SECRETARY HAS BEEN TALKING OVER HERE TODAY. NOW, HE HAD, THE SECRETARY, SPENT THREE HOURS FROM 10 UNTIL ABOUT 1:00 O'CLOCK WITH PRESIDENT SADAT IN CAIRO TODAY. FOLLOWING THAT, THE FOREIGN MINISTER, MINISTER FAHMI, RETURNED HERE TO THE HILTON HOTEL WITH THE SECRETARY AND SPENT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR HERE WHICH DELAYED OUR DEPARTURE FOR LUNCH, AND THE SECRETARY WILL BE SEEING HIM ONCE AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 AT THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S OFFICE, AND THEN THE LAST SCHEDULED THING THIS EVENING IS DINNER THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER WILL GIVE.

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Q. BOB, IS PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THE SISCO-SAUNDERS VISIT TO ISRAEL TO EXPLAIN THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH EGYPT?

A. WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU TO EXCLUDE THAT. CERTAINLY THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THAT. I WOULD EXPECT THERE WOULD BE

MORE DISCUSSIO THERE ABOUT THE SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS HERE IN CAIRO.

Q. BOB, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT IS TO CONSULT WITH THE ISRAELIS ABOUT PROPOSALS OR PROPOSITIONS RAISED HERE OR TO COMMUNICATE TO THE ISRAELIS DECISIONS ALREADY MADE?

A. THEY WILL BE CONSULTING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL.

Q. BOB, IF THAT IS SO, WHY ARE THEY NOT COMING BACK TO EGYPT? WHY ARE THEY GOING TO JORDAN? YOU THINK THERE IS A RESPONSE TO GIVE EGYPT FROM ISRAEL?

A. WELL, I DON'T WANT TO RULE THAT OUT. WE DON'T HAVE IT SCHEDULED; SI JUST SAID THAT I EXPECT THEM TO JOIN US IN JORDAN TOMORROW AND AFTER THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

Q. WHAT IS IT THAT MADE THE RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS POSSIBLE TODAY?

A. THIS IS A MATTER THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS DISCUSSED WITH BOTH THE PRESIDENT OF EGYPT AND OTHER OFFICIALS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND A MATTER IN WHCH WE WERE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN RETURNING ITS FORMER STATUS. I DON'T WANT TO ATTEMPT TO DELINEATE EVERY CONSIDERATION AND PARTICULARLY NOT ON BEHALF OF EGYPT. I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD AND CAN SPEAK TO THAT FOR THEMSELVES. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR FEELING THAT SINCE, OR LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THAT WE WOULD PERHAPS HAVE A MORE EFFECTIVE LINE AND LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION IF BOTH GOVERNMENTS WERE REPRESENTED AT THE AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL.

Q. WELL, WHAT MADE IT POSSIBLE, BOB ...

A. MARVIN.

Q. SOME OF US HAD THE IMPRESSION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THAT THE RESUMPTION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS HAS BEEN LINKED BY THE EGYPTIANS TO CERTAIN AGREEMENTS, PERHAPS, OR UNDERSTANDINGS THAT HAD TO BE REACHED ON THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION REGARDING THE CEASEFIRE. IS THAT A PROPER ASSUMPTION AT THIS TIME?

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A. WELL, I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE THE GOVERTZENT OF EYGPT TO SPEAK TO THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD DETAIL ALL OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WENT INTO THEIR THINKING ABOUT IT, THE FACT THAT IT CAME NOW RATHER THAN LATER, IS A MATTER OF SATISFACTION TO THE UNITED STATES.

Q. DO YOU EXPECT OTHER ARAB GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW SOON?

A. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING.

Q. HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE THE SITUATION NOW, BOB? THE SECRETARY SEEMED TO BE RATHER OPTIMISTIC THIS AFTERNOON. IS HE STILL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES FOR A SETTLEMENT?

A. WELL, REMEMBER WHAT I SAID A FEW MINUTES AGO, IN HAVING MESSRS. SISCO AND SAUNDERS GO TO ISRAEL. THE BACKGROUND OF THAT WAS THAT WE DEVELOPED HERE IN CAIRO SOME IDEAS BOTH ON THE IMMEDIATE ISSUES AND ON THE LONGER RANGE QUESTIONS THAT WE FEL WOULD BE OF INTEREST AND WARRANT DISCUSSION WITH ISRAEL, SO THAT AND INDEED ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD WITH THE PARTIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, PARTICULARLY IN WASHINGTON BUT ALSO IN MOSCOW, WE HAVE FOCUSED A GOOD DEAL OF ATTENTION IN THE FIRST INSTANCE ON THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION ON THE GROUNG BUT ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND THAT IF THAT COULD BE RESOLVED AND ACCOMMODATIONS REACHED, THAT THAT WOULD MOVE YOU THEN TOWARDS A LONGER TERM QUESTION OF A SETTLEMENT WHICH IS THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT AT THE MOMENT.

Q. BOB, YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT IS PHRASED IN CONDITIONAL TERMS; IT IS AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO RESUME RELATIONS. ARE THERE CONDITIONS ON ONE OR THE OTHER SIDE THAT HAVE TO BE FULFILLED BEFORE THIS AGREEMENT IS CONSUMMATED.

A. I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THERE ARE AND I'D BE WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE WHICH IN FACT THEN ESTABLISHES TWO RESIDENT AMBASSADORS IN PLACE IS DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH FROM IN EFFECT HAVING DEJURE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, SO I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPLICATION THAT ANYTHING IS CONDITIONAL HERE.

Q. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHY IT IS CALLED AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE?

A. THIS IS THE WAY THE SECRETARY AND THE PRESIDENT OF EGYPT AND HIS ADVISORS DECIDED TO LEAVE IT FOR THE PRESENT. WELL I JUST HAVE TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.

Q. BOB, PRESIDENT SADAT TODAY AFTER MEETING WITH DR.KISSINGER SAID THAT WITHOUT DOUBT THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE SECRETARY TO CONTINUE TO PLAY THE MIDDLE MAN IN THE SITUATION. DO YOU FORESEE THE SECRETARY REMAINING ACTIVE PERSONALLY IN HELPING THE TWO SIDES TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS?

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A. WELL, I THINK YOU CAN ASSUME THAT THE SECRETARY WILL REMAIN PERSONALLY INTERESTED AND TO AN IMPORTANT DEGREE PERSONALLY INVOLVED. WHETHER, WHEN AND IF A NEGOTIATING PROCESS WHICH IN FACT BRINGS THE PARTIES TOGETHER IN SOME FORM AND PLACE YET TO BE AGREED UPON, IT WOULD BE CONSTITUTED, AT A SECRETARY OF STATE LEVEL, I AM INCLINED TO DOUBT. I THINK PROBABLY IT WOULD BE SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT BY COMMON CONSENT OF ALL OF THE GOVERNMENTS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE SECRETARY IN WASHINGTON WOULD NOT BE PERSONALLY INVOLVED.

Q. BOB, WHAT IF THE ISRAELIS DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF ....

A. OF THE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS ISSUE, OR ALL?

Q. WHAT WOULD THE RUSSIAN (UNCLEAR)....

A. WELL, I THINK IN PART THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT. I'VE ALREADY SAID AND I THINK THOSE WHO COVER WASHINGTON HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS SOUGHT ON A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC OCCASIONS THAT I CAN PERSONALLY RECALL OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE RESTORATION OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND CAIRO, SO WE WERE PREPARED FOR IT AT ANY TIME.

QM (UNCLEAR)....

A. THE CONVERSATIONS HERE TODAY CLEARLY PRECIPITATED IT, I DOUBT THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASN'T VISITING CAIRO TODAY, SO CERTAINLY A PRECIPITATE ACTION LIES IN THE TALKS HERE TODAY, THE FACT THAT I DON'T HAVE THE CIRRICULUM VITAE ON THE MAN BEING DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED STATE IS SOMETHING YLU MAY CRITICIZE ME FOR IF YOU LIKE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEREBY HANGS ALL THAT MUCH.

Q. BOB, THERE IS THE CONDITIONAL IN THE WAY YOU'VE STATED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS. MESSRS. SISCO AND SAUNDERS ARE GOING TO ISRAEL TO DISCUSS IDEAS. IF THE ISRAELIS DO NOT APPROVE THOSE IDEAS, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS DECISION ON RELATIONS COULD BE REVERSED?

A. I WOULD EXCLUDE IT.

Q. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PRECEDENT WHERE AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, WHERE THERE ARE ON-GOING RELATIONS (UNCLEAR) INTERESTS SECTION IN THE TWO COUNTRIES?

A. WELL, IN THE PERIOD SINCE 1967, I THINK THAT HAS OCCURRED IN..., WELL, WHERE WE HAD INTEREST SECTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE SUDAN, WHERE RELATIONS WERE BROKEN WITH THE UNITED STATES IN 1967. NOW WHETHER AT THAT TIME IN RE-ESTABLISHING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WE USED THE PHRASE "AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE", I'M FRANK TO SAY I DON'T REMEMBER. BUT THERE IS PRECEDENT INDEED FOR THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE U.S. HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY A THIRD PARTY.

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Q. (UNCLEAR)

A. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, MURRAY, WHETHER IT'S YES OR NO.

Q. BOB, WILL THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN WASHINGTON BE THE FIRST WORD TO ISRAEL ABOUT THIS RESTORATION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH EGYPT?

A. I BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WAS COMMUNICATED THROUGH OUR CHANNELS TO EGYPT EARLIER TODAY.

Q. YOU MEAN ISRAEL!

A. I'M SORRY, TO ISRAEL, AND WHILE AND WHILE ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE FOR SISCO AND SAUNDERS TO GET TO ISRAEL, INDEED THE ISRAELIS HAD SENT AN AIRCRAFT TO CYPRUS TO PICK UP SISCO AND SAUNDERS TO FLY THEM TO ISRAEL.

Q. IT WOULD COME, WOULD YOU SAY, AS A SURPRISE TO MRS. MEIR, SHE HAVING BEEN IN WASHINGTON JUST LAST WEEK, IT'S HARD TO JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE'S REACTIONS, BUT SHOULD SHE BE SURPRISED BY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT?

A. THE QUESTION PUT THAT WAY, I MUST ANSWER WITH "NO COMMENT."

Q. (UNCLEAR) THE NET RESULT OF ALL THE ACTIVITY TODAY, THE HURRIED VISIT OF SISCO AND SAUNDERS TO ISRAEL (UNCLEAR) ADDITIONAL PRESSURES ON ISREAL TO MAKE CONCESSIONS TO THE EGYPTIAN SIDE?

A. I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A FAIR OR JUSTIFIED CONCLUSION AT ALL. THOSE OF YOU WERE WATCHING IN WASHINGTON WHILE YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE TOTAL ANATOMY OF THE PROCESS DID KNOW GENERALLY THAT WE WERE HAVING CROSS CONVERSATION WITH THE EGYPTIANS AND WITH THE ISRAELIS, AND TO ANOTHER EXTENT WITH THE SOVIET UNION. I SAID HERE A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT IT WAS ALWAYS ANTICIPATED THAT MR. SISCO WOULD GO BACK THROUGH ISRAEL AT SOME POINT. THE FACT THAT HE IS GOING THERE TODAY IS PRECIPITATED BY THE PROGRESS IN THE CONVERSATIONS MADE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY, PRESIDENT SADAT AND HIS OFFICIALS. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THEY ARE BEING SENT THERE TO PRESSURE ISRAEL. ISRAEL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, AND WILL MAKE ITS DECISION IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT IT CONSIDERS TO BE ITS BEST INTERESTS. YES, SIR?

Q. (UNCLEAR)...

A. I'LL TRY IT ONCE MORE. IT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING THE EGYPTIAN SIDE INFORMED OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH ISRAEL, KEEPING ISRAEL INFORMED OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EGYPTIANS. MRS. MEIR HERSELF SAID WHEN SHE CAME TOWASHINGTO, NOT ONCE BUT SEVERAL TIMES, THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO BRING PRESSURE UPON ISRAEL. NOW WE EITHER HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY HERE IN WHICH WE CAN TRANSMIT THE POSITIONS AND THE ATTITUDES OF THE TWO PRINCIPAL PARTIES THAT WILL REQUIRE SOME

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FRANKNESS OF EXPRESSION, OR WE DON'T. IT'S OUR BELIEF THAT WE DO, AND THE FACT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONTACT IN BOTH TEL AVIV AND CAIRO I THINK IS AMPLE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

Q. BOB - I'M SORRY, I STILL DON'T UNDER. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AGREEMENT AND AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE?

A. HERB, IF I SAID IT WAS A DIFFERENCE PERPAPS, OR A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE, WOULD THAT HELP? I'VE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SAYING AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE AND IDENTIFYING AMBASSADORS TO TAKE UP POSTS PROMPTLY IS TO IN EFFECT HAVE FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. THE FACT THAT THIS LANGUAGE WAS AGREED UPON TO ... IS ..., IT WAS AGREED TO.

Q. BOB (UNCLEAR). CONVERSATIONS SUGGESTING ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN SOVIET UNION AND ISREAL/

A. NOT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.

Q. BOB, SOME OF THE CONFUSION, I THINK HERE, ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT SOME OF US HAD BELIEVED THAT DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS COULD NOT BE RESUMED WITH EGYPT UNTIL THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND WAS RESOLVED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. NOW YOU SAY ...

A. NOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS EVER SAID QUITE THAT SPECIFICALLY.

Q. WELL, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHETHER TODAY YOU ARE ANY MORE OPTIMISTIC THAT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND CAN BE RESOLVED IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON JL ALLTO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE?

A. WE'LL PERHAPS KNOW BETTER AFTER WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ISRAEL, IS THE ONLY COMMON SENSE WAY I CAN ANSWER THAT.

Q. BOB, WITH AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE, WILL THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, PERIOD, REQUIRE NOW ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT?

A. IF YOU LIKE, WE'LL MAKE ANOTHER ONE.

Q. BOB, ON ASSISTANT SECRETARY SISCO, THERE IS A REPORT THAT HE IS INTENDING TO TRAVEL TO KUWAIT (UNCLEAR).

A. WE HAD THOUGHT BEFORE WE LEFT WASHINGTON THAT DAMASCUS MIGHT BE INCLUDED ON HIS ITINERARY AND IT APPARENTLY IS THE FEELING IN DAMASCUS THAT THEY WOULD RATHER PERHAPS HAVE IT OCCUR AT ANOTHER TIME, SO HE WILL NOT BE GOING TO DAMASCUS, ON PRESENT FORM. KUWAIT, I'M FRANK TO TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT IS, AND THEN ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS THAT GAVE YOU A WEEK OR SO AGO IN WASHINGTON TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE ARE STILL HOLDING.

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Q. BOB, YOU JUST SAID THAT THE U.S. WOULD NOT PUT PRESSURE ON ISRAEL. CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY OTHER WAY THAT ISRAEL CAN BE PERSUADED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES?

A. NO COMMENT.

Q. THANK YOU.

A. WHAT? THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED AND OF EGYPT HAVE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO RESUME DIPLOMATIC RELATION AT AN EARLY DATE. THE TWO GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALSO AGREED THAT IN THE MEANTIME THE RESPECTIVE INTEREST SECTIONS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL BE RAISED IMMEDIATELY TO THE AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL. THE GOE HAS NAMED AMBASSADOR ASHRAF GHORBAL, THE UNITED STATES HAS DESIGNED AMBASSADOR HERMANN EILTS. THEY WILL TAKE UP THEIR POSTS PROMPTLY.

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DEPT PLEASE REPEAT AS APPROPRIATE TO ADDITIONAL INFO ADDRESSEES.

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SECTO 191
VEST PASS SCOWCROFT FROM MCCLOSKEY
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: PEOR, DVIP

SUBJECT: SECVISIT TOKYO - PRESS BRIEFING, NOVEMBER 15, 1973
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF ON-THE-RECORD PRESS BRIEFING
IN TOKYO, NOVEMBER 15, 1973

AMBASSADOR MCCLOSKEY: FIRST LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR KEEPING
YOU WAITING. I HAVE JUST COME FROM THE CHIEFS OF MISSION
MEETING. I WILL BE GLAD TO TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
Q. BOB, WAS SECRETARY KISSINGER ABLE TO GIVE THE JAPANESE
ANY SPECIFIC ASSURANCES, AND IF HE WAS, WHAT ARE THEY,
THAT THE UNITED STATES COULD BE OF HELP IN THEIR OIL
CRISIS?

A. I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET INTO THAT KIND OF DETAIL, SO
FAR AS THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE JAPANESE ARE CONCERNED.
THE SUBJECT OF OIL OCCUPIED A VERY GOOD MEASURE OF
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE SECRETARY HAD TODAY. AND
ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THAT IT IS OUR HOPE, NATURALLY, THAT
AS AND IF A SETTLEMENT ON THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY
DIFFERENCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST CAN BE ACHIEVED, THAT WE
WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF PRODUCTION
AND EMBARGO OF EXPORT OF OIL FROM THE AREA.

Q. BOB, ON ANOTHER SUBJECT, THERE WAS SOMEWHAT CONFUSING UPI STORY TODAY OUT OF WASHINGTON THAT SAID EITHER, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, AMERICAN TROOPS ON TAIWAN WOULD BE DOWN ANOTHER 3,000, DOWN TO 3,500 FROM 6,500 BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THAT THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDISCLOSED. ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT STORY? COULD YOU CLARIFY WHAT THE PRESENT SITUATION IS REGARDING TROOP WITHDRAWALS FROM TAIWAN -- WHETHER THERE IS ANY COMMITMENT TO REACH A CERTAIN LEVEL BY THE END OF THIS YEAR?

A. JOHN, THAT IS THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF THAT STORY.
MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THE LEVEL OF AMERICAN FORCES

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Q. BOB, YOU JUST SAID "LATER ON". I WAS WONDERING IF THAT INDICATED A DELAY OF THE EXPECTATION THAT THIS CONFERENCE MIGHT GET STARTED SOMETIME NEXT MONTH.

A. I WOULD THINK NEXT MONTH REMAINS A POSSIBILITY. I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT THE TIMING OF IT WOULD DEPEND UPON PERFORMANCE ON THE TERMS OF THE CEASE FIRE ON THE GROUND.

QVV BOB, ARE YOU IMPLYING IN YOU ANSWER TO FRANK STARR THAT IN ANOTHER SETTING, PERHAPS IN WASHINGTON IN A FEW DAYS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER HIS QUESTION AND QUESTIONS LIKE IT?

A. DO YOU MEAN ON THE SUBJECT OF OIL?

Q. YES -- BECAUSE OIL IS SO SENSITIVE HERE.

A. I JUST CANNOT PROMISE.

Q. BOB, YOU HAVE SAID YOU CANNOT GO INTO ANY OF THE SPECIFICS ON DETAILS. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INDICATIONS THOUGH OF WHERE THE TWO SIDES STAND AT THIS POINT? ARE THEY AT CROSS PURPOSES ON THE SUBJECT OF COORDINATION OF POLICY ON ENERGY? IS THERE A WISE DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS? DO THEY HAVE ANY PROSPECT FOR NARROWING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM? DO THEY HAVE ANY ONGOING DISCUSSIONS PLANNED?

A. AGAIN, FORGIVE ME, MURREY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, I AM OBLIGED TO ANSWER WITH NO COMMENT. SO FAR AS THE LAST PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS CONCERNED, I WOULD EXPECT YES, THAT THIS SUBJECT WILL CONTINUE TO BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE U.S. AND JAPAN.

Q. MR. AMBASSADOR, YOU MENTIONED THAT THEU.S. FEELS JAPAN SHOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ATLANTIC PRINCIPLES, OR WHATEVER THEY ARE CALLED. DID YOU GET ANY INDICATION AS TO HOW THE JAPANESE FEEL ON THE SUBJECT?

A. IT HAS BEEN OUR IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A MATTER THAT

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Q. (IN JAPANESE) I WOULD LIKE MR. AMBASSADOR TO EXPLAIN, ESPECIALLY TO THE JAPANESE PRESS MEMBERS, HOW THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS CHANGED WHEN THERE WAS A CHANGE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FROM MR. ROGERS TO DR. KISSINGER.
A. WE IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WAS PLEASED WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT. SERIOUSLY, THERE WAS A GENERAL AIR OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT. AND THE SECRETARY HAS MOVED TO INVOLVE THE CAREER SERVICE TO AN ADMIRABLE EXTENT IN IMPORT POLICY MATTERS. HE RELIED ALMOST TOTALLY ON CAREER SERVICE OFFICERS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE FIGHTING IN THE MIDDLE EAST. AND I THINK PUBLICLY, BUT AT LEAST I KNOW PRIVATELY, HAS EXPRESSED HIS GREAT SATISFACTION WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE. SO I THINK THAT IT AUGURS WELL FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

Q. SIR, DID THE SECRETARY IN HIS MEETING WITH FINANCE MINISTER AICHI GET DOWN TO SUCH SPECIFICS AS THE WEAKENING YEN?

A. THAT IS NOT MY IMPRESSION. I THINK THE CONVERSATION THERE WAS PRINCIPALLY ABOUT OIL.

Q. BOB, ORIGINALLY WHEN THESE TALKS WERE SET UP WITH THE JAPANESE, COMING HERE BEFORE GOING TO CHINA AND THEN COMING HERE ON THE WAY OUT --THE IDEA AS EXPLAINED TO US WERE THESE WERE BROAD-RANGING TALKS. WE GATHER 90 PERCENT OF IT IS ABOUT OIL, AND YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF OTHER TOPICS. YOU ADMITTED THAT THE ATLANTIC CHARTER PART WAS VERY BRIEF. TO WHAT DEGREE DID THE CONSULTATIONS CONSTITUTE BROAD, WIDE-RANGING TALKS WITH OUR SO-CALLED FRIENDLY ALLY, OR TO WHAT DEGREE WERE THEY SIMPLY CRISIS MANAGEMENT FLAP OR REACTION?

A. WHEN WE FIRST PLANNED THE TRIP TO CHINA, WE TOLD THE JAPANESE THAT ON OUR WAY TO CHINA WE WOULD STOP HERE FOR

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ON THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, OF COURSE WE ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS CREATED FOR MANY NATIONS BY THE EM-BARGO ON PRODUCTION AND EXPORT OF OIL. AND WE ARE PREPARED TO LISTEN TO THE VIEWS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS WHO MAY BE MORE DIRECTLY AND MORE IMMEDIATELY AFFECTED THAN THE UNITED STATES. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK IN A WAY THAT BOTH WILL RESTORE SOME SERENITY TO THE AREA, ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT, AND AT THE SAME TIME FIND A RESOLU-TION TO THE PROBLEM OF OIL. SO WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE PROBLEMS CREATED FOR JAPAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.

Q. BOB, WHILE YOU ARE STAYING, CAN I PUT A QUESTION TO YOU. WHILE YOU WERE IN CHINA, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE JAPANESE REFERRED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AS THE "MIDEAST CYCLONE." CHOU EN-LAI SAID THE JAPANESE THINK OF HIM AS THE "MIDEAST CYCLONE." I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE THAT THE PACE TOWARDS THE PEACE TABLE HAS BEEN ACCELERATED MANY-FOLD IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. WITHOUT DISCUSSING SPECIFICS, CAN YOU TELL US IF THE JAPANESE ARE HAPPY WITH THAT PACE OR DO THEY WANT SOMETHING FASTER THAN A CYCLONE? A. YOU HAVE AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO POSE A QUESTION IN ITS MOST BRUTAL WAY. I THINK IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THE JAPANESE HAVE WISHED THE SECRETARY WELL IN HIS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE A NEGOTIATION AMONG THE PARTIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. AN OUTSIDE NATION'S DESIRE AS TO HOW THE PACE FOR NEGOTIATIONS MAY BE SET CAN ONLY BE A DESIRE. THE PACE WILL DEPEND UPON THE POLITICAL WILL AND THE READINESS OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT.

Q. MR. AMBASSADOR, COULD YOU GIVE US AN ASSESSMENT FOR THE FAR EAST SITUATION AS REACHED MAYBE IN THE AMBAS-SADORIAL CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE SITUATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULAR?

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A. WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS THE AREA OF THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC WAS ONE OF THE AREAS UNDER DISCUSSION THERE TODAY, TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF OTHERS. THIS WAS NOT A SESSION, AS INDEED THEY ARE NEVER SESSIONS, IN WHICH NEW DECISIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN. THERE ARE LITERALLY IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD AN IXCHANGE OF VIEWS WHICH ENABLE THE AMBASSADOR FROM ONE AREA TO LISTEN TO HOW HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE PACIFIC SEE THE TOPIC, AS WELL FOR ALL OF THEM FROM THE AREA, THEN, TO HAVE THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME OUT FROM WASHINGTON. THERE WERE NO NEW ACTIONS DECIDED UPON IN TODAY'S SESSION. THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TOMORROW. AND WHAT I WOULD EXPECT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS IS THAT THERE WILL BE MORE WRITING AND MORE CONSIDERATION OF THE AREAS IN THE PACIFIC WHERE WE ARE REPRESENTED, BOTH IN WASHINGTON AND IN THE EMBASSIES, AS A RESULT OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION.

Q. THANK YOU, BOB.

(WHEREUPON AT 6:55 P.M. THE BRIEFING WAS CONCLUDED.)

KISSINGER
BT

PSN:040705

RECALLED.

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