275. Backchannel Message From the Egyptian Presidential Adviser for National Security Affairs (Ismail) to Secretary of State Kissinger1
[Omitted here is material unrelated to the October 1973 War.]
President Sadat has received President Nixon’s message conveyed through Dr. Kissinger2 and thanks him for it.
1. We would like to inform the United States that we agree to the presence of an international force composed of units from non-permanent members of the Security Council as long as it is backed by the full support of the permanent members and in particular the U.S. and the USSR.
2. We consider that the immediate and most urgent task of this force is to supervise and observe the implementation of the Security Council Resolution of 23 October 1973, i.e., the pull back of Israeli troops to the positions they held on the coming into effect of 22 October resolution.
3. We expect the force to be immediately dispatched to the area to assume its function before any delay results in incalculable and far reaching consequences.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 132, Country Files, Middle East, Ismail/Egypt, Vol. VII, October 1–31, 1973. Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten notation on the message indicates that it was received in Washington at 1:10 p.m. on October 25.↩
- In this message, sent at 8:51 a.m. on October 25, Kissinger asked that Ismail inform Sadat that Nixon believed “the introduction of US–Soviet combat forces would have incalculable consequences.” The United States was, however, “prepared to support an international force from other than permanent members of the Security Council, for dispatch to the Middle East to observe the implementation of the Security Council Resolution.” (Ibid.)↩