Office of the Historian

157. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin)1

Washington, October 11, 1973, 8:25 p.m.

K. We think we should move with the British and we have had a call from the Prime Minister to that effect.2 I told him we will talk first thing in the morning.

D. The Security Council will meet in the morning.

K. In the morning? Just let me set it up first.

D. As to now, what exactly can I say about the British?

K. I do not have a . . . now but I have started my discussions with them.

D. The first impression was all right?

K. The first impression was positive.

D. As of now the first reaction was favorable but the final reply will be given tomorrow.

K. That is right but I have not told them about your involvement. I don’t want an overzealous man in your Embassy staff in London to go running . . . Let me handle it. I will be back to you tomorrow around noon at the latest. I will tell you by one. Nothing will happen at the Security Council meeting that isn’t fully coordinated with you. We are arranging that only after you approve will we proceed so there will be no call to meeting unless you approve. We will try to work out some resolution and if you approve it we will get someone to call a meeting. We will get the British to call the meeting.

D. That is all right. I think it is maybe good to tell our people.

K. I can’t let Scali into this until I have the British lined up.

D. Tomorrow you will call. In the meanwhile I will explain to Moscow that they need to think it over.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Anatoli[y] Dobrynin File, Box 28. No classification marking.↩
  2. Heath called Kissinger at 8 p.m. on October 11 to ask him to urge the Israelis not to attack if Hussein moved a brigade to the west of the Golan Heights. Heath said: “I think that this is the best arrangement really. Let him appear to be doing something when he really isn’t.” Kissinger agreed. They also discussed coordinating a position at the Security Council. (Ibid.) Printed in Kissinger, Crisis, pp. 189–190.↩