Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

373. Letter From the Secretary of State Kissinger’s Executive Assistant (Eagleburger) to the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin)¹

Washington, December 5, 1973.

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

Attached are a copy of the Fahmi 6-point proposal² and the new draft of the letter to the Secretary General which Secretary Kissinger discussed with you on the telephone this evening.³

As the Secretary pointed out, our problems with the latest Fahmi proposal relate to two points:

—While we agree with the Egyptian view that the conference should have some endorsement of the Security Council, we are not in favor of a formal meeting of the Security Council to achieve this purpose.

—With regard to point 6, we have problems with the phrase “the timing of the participation . . .”, and would prefer that the earlier formulation, “the question of the participation . . .” remained.

Sincerely,

Lawrence S. Eagleburger

Attachment

1. The United States and the Soviet Union will inform the United Nations Secretary General and others about the following modalities for the conference.

2. The United States and the Soviet Union will arrange for a meeting of the Security Council and they will declare that according to their understanding Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Syria have agreed to attend the peace conference.

3. The conference will be convened under the auspices of the United Nations with the participation of the Secretary General or his representative.

4. The conference will be under the co-chairmanship of the United States and the Soviet Union.

5. The conference will be convened on December 18, 1973, in Geneva. The opening sessions will be at the Foreign Minister’s level.

6. The timing of the participation of the Palestinians and Lebanon will be discussed during the first stage of the conference.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 70, Country Files, Europe, Exchange of Notes Between Dobrynin and Kissinger, Vol. 8. No classification marking.
2. Printed below. Telegram 3810 from Cairo, December 5, transmitted Fahmi’s proposal to Washington. Eilts stated that the Foreign Minister had explained that these six principles should be the basis for convening the peace conference. (Ibid., NSC Files, Box 639, Country Files, Middle East, Arab Republic of Egypt, Vol. X, Nov. 73–Dec. 31, 1973) In telegram 3828 from Cairo, December 6, the Ambassador noted that Fahmi had strongly implied that the revised language in paragraph 3 specifying that the Secretary General or his representative would participate in the conference and not just the opening phase was necessary because of Syria’s insistence. (Ibid.)
3. The letter is not attached and not found. Kissinger and Dobrynin discussed the Egyptian letter at 8:18 and 8:22 p.m. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 24)