299. Memorandum for the Record by the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)1

Minister Shalev gave me a report on the second meeting between the Israeli and Egyptian Generals (12 Noon Cairo time).

The Egyptians raised the matter of Israeli withdrawal to the 22 October lines;2 the establishment of regular resupply convoys to the Third Army; and the acceleration of the unloading of the first convoy.

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The Israelis, in turn, raised the following:

(1) The question of regular resupply convoys and the lines of 22 October would have to be dealt with at a political level;3

(2) They agreed that five amphibious vehicles and 50 workers should be used to trans-ship the supplies across the Canal;

(3) An acceleration of the exchange of the wounded and of lists of POW’s;

(4) Immediate visits by the ICRC to the wounded and the POW’s;

(5) Develop a time-table for the exchange of the POW’s.

The Egyptians handed over a list of 45 wounded prisoners and 6 dead and promised by tonight’s meeting a positive reply on: (1) the readiness to return the wounded prisoners; (2) arrangements with the ICRC to visit the wounded with medical supplies; (3) the evacuation of seriously wounded prisoners, both in the Third Army and in Israeli hospitals. The Egyptians also promised a list of all POW’s within three days, but stated they were not yet in a position to discuss a time-table for POW exchanges.

The atmosphere of the meeting was fairly good. The Egyptian General said he understood the delay in the convoy unloading and that they had no real complaints about it. There were no threats by the Egyptian side of renewed force. They did complain about the shooting down of helicopters which may have been evacuating the wounded.

Brent Scowcroft4
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 136, Country Files, Middle East, Dinitz, June 4–October 31, 1973. No classification marking. A handwritten notation indicates that the memorandum was LDXed to Eagleburger at 5:52 p.m. on October 29.
  2. Telegram 1228 from Jerusalem, October 30, 1359Z, reported that General Siilasvuo met with Israeli Minister of Defense Dayan at 1:45 p.m. local time on October 30 in the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. On instructions from the UN Secretary General and in his capacity as Commander of the UN Emergency Force, Siilasvuo asked that the Israelis return to the positions occupied by them at 1650Z on October 22. Dayan’s interim reply was “no,” but he said he would consult the Prime Minister for an official answer. (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 610, Country Files, Middle East, Israel, Vol. 12, March–October 1973)
  3. In a telephone conversation between Kissinger and Dinitz, 12:45 pm., October 30, the Israeli Ambassador informed Kissinger that Meir agreed to permit another 20 to 30 trucks with general supplies to be added to the “one-time” convoy of 100 trucks to the Egyptian Third Army. (Ibid., Kissinger Office Files, Box 136, Country Files, Middle East, Dinitz, June 4–October 31, 1973)
  4. The original bears this typed signature.