70. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon 1

Following is Secretary Kissinger’s report of his Thursday morning talks with the Israelis.

“I have just completed a three-hour session with the Israeli Cabinet.2 They have now moved to a slightly more flexible position on the issue of the thinned out forces. I hope this may enable me to make some further progress in Damascus.

“I am now flying to Damascus where I will make one more major effort with Asad. I will report again this evening.”

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 45, HAK Trip Files, Middle East Memos and Security, April 28–May 31, 1974. Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for information.
  2. The meeting between the Israeli negotiating team and Kissinger took place on May 23 from 9:05 to 11:50 a.m. at the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem. (Memorandum of conversation; ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1029, Presidential/HAK Memcons, May 8–31, 1974, Folder 1)