27. Action Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Davies) to Secretary of
State Rogers1
2
Washington, September 25, 1969.
SUBJECT:
- Message to Syrian President Regarding TWA Incident - ACTION
MEMORANDUM
Background:
In the course of your conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister
Eban, Eban suggested that a message to
Syrian President Nureddin al-Atassi might be useful in securing the
release of the two detained Israeli passengers. As I understand you
wished, we have prepared the attached oral message from you to the
Syrian President.
Recommendation:
That you approve the attached telegram conveying your request that
the Syrian Government promptly release the two Israeli
passengers.
[Page 2]
Attachment
SUBJECT TWA Hijacking
- 1.
- Although we have sought to avoid statements and actions
that might serve to make Syrians more obdurate, prolonged
detention of two Israeli passengers will increasingly
generate pressures for retaliatory actions. Department is in
process of replying to letter from Senator Cranston signed
by 41 members of the Congress urging that a case against
Syria be made in the Security Council. Embassy will have
noted also militant statements by Israeli Minister of
Trans-port Carmel and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael
(Tel Aviv 3629).
- 2.
- Inasmuch as Italian approaches to SARG have been through the Foreign Ministry,
Embassy requested to raise with Italians the possibility of
Ambassador Riccardi delivering or transmitting to President
Atassi an oral message from the Secretary.
- 3.
- If no objection is perceived, you should request that
Italian Embassy Damascus deliver to President Atassi the
following oral message from Secretary Rogers:
- 4.
- QUOTE Mr. President: The United States Government remains
profoundly concerned over the continued detention by your
government of two passengers from the Trans-World Airlines
aircraft that was hijacked to Damascus on August 29.
Although aware of the underlying issue of the Arab-Israel
conflict, our concern stems not from the nationality of the
passengers involved, but from the obligation the United
States Government feels for passengers choosing to fly on
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a United
States flag aircraft. This consideration is fundamental and
should also be a matter of very great concern to the Syrian
Government, which itself operates an international
airline.
- 5.
- I believe continued detention of the passengers will tend
to encourage hijacking and other unlawful interference with
international civil aviation. This clearly puts the safety
of civil aviation in grave jeopardy. The Government of the
Syrian Arab Republic, as a member of the International Civil
Aviation Organization, is certainly aware of its
international obligations in this respect, and I am sure it
is also aware that its failure to meet these obligations
will have an adverse effect on world opinion.
- 6.
- In conclusion, despite the absence of relations between
our two countries but in view of our common interest in the
safety of international civil aviation, I urge that
[Page 5]
your government
urgently release the two remaining passengers from the
hijacked aircraft. Sincerely, William P. Rogers. UNQUOTE
