Office of the Historian

79. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon1

Washington, May 29, 1974.

Secretary Kissinger asked that I pass you the following report.

“I have just received word that the Israeli Cabinet has approved the agreement.2 The Cabinet will reconvene at 9:00 a.m. Washington time today to give the impression that it is still considering the question in order to prevent any leaks. That session will run until shortly after 10:00 a.m. Washington time. To meet this timing I believe it is essential that you make the announcement of the agreement a few minutes before 10:00 a.m. Washington time but in no case later than 10:00 a.m.

“The text of the announcement which has been agreed upon reads as follows:

‛The discussions conducted by United States Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger with Syria and Israel have led to an agreement on the disengagement of Syrian and Israeli forces. The agreement will be signed by Syrian and Israeli military representatives in the Egyptian-Israeli Military Working Group of the Geneva Conference on Thursday, May 30, 1974 in Geneva.’”3

  1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, CL 155, Geopolitical File, Israel, May 1974. Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for information.↩
  2. Kissinger met with Meir on May 29 from 1:10 until 2:30 p.m. at the Prime Minister’s Residence. (Memorandum of conversation; National Archives, RG 59, Records of Henry Kissinger, 1973–77, Box 8, Nodis Memcons, May 1974, Folder 10)↩
  3. The President read the statement on nationwide radio and television at 1:02 p.m. on May 31. For text of his remarks about the significance of the agreement, see Public Papers: Nixon, 1974, pp. 463–464.↩