45. Telegram 10203 From the Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany to the Department of State

The Embassy reported that TWA Flight 741, Swissair Flight 100, and PanAm Clipper 93 had been hijacked, and that Pan Am Clipper 03 was presumed hijacked. An El Al flight had landed in London with three dead passengers and another three taken hostage by hijackers.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Immediate; Limited Official Use. Repeated to Athens, Beirut, Belgrade, Zagreb, Bern, Tel Aviv, London, the consulates at Frankfurt and Zurich, USINT Cairo, USINT Damascus, USINT Baghdad, and CINCUSAFE.

46. Intelligence Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret.

47. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to President Nixon

Haig provided the President with a status report on diplomatic efforts to deal with the demands of the hijackers.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information.

48. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Rogers told Nixon that he had made a humanitarian appeal to the Arab chiefs of mission for the safety of the hijacking hostages held in Jordan by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, President’s Evening Reading: Lot 74 D 164. Secret.

49. Telegram 147006 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan

The Department of State communicated to the Embassy that it would be desirable for the Jordanian forces to warn the PFLP that if it blew up the aircraft and killed the passengers, Jordanian forces would assure that no PFLP members would survive.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted and approved by U. Alexis Johnson, and cleared by Sisco and Eliot.

50. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with a situation report on the hijackings and noted that he had met with Secretary of State Rogers, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs Sisco, Secretary of Defense Laird, and Director of Central Intelligence Helms that morning to discuss possible actions related to the hijackings.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Material, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Top Secret; Sensitive

51. Telegram 147018 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

The Department instructed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation and Telecommunications Rein to discuss at the Regional Civil Air Attachi meeting the question of international sanctions against nations assisting hijackers.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Franklin K. Willis (L/E) and approved by David B. Ortman (E/OA/AVP).

52. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with a midday situation report on the hijacked airliners and events in Amman.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information. The record of the WSAG meeting of September 9 is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XXIV, Arabian Peninsula; Middle East Region, 1969–1972; Jordan 1970.

53. Telegram 4495 From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State

The Charge in Amman recommended against asking Jordanian King Hussein to issue a warning to the PFLP at this time.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Secret; Flash; Nodis.

54. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with a status report on the hijacked airliners, attendant diplomatic negotiations, and possible contingency actions.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information.

55. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with an evening status report on the hijacking situation.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information. Haig signed for Kissinger.

56. Memorandum For the President

A proposal for the President’s approval for a program to deter future hijacking of U.S. aircraft approved by the FAA, the airline industry, the appropriate departments and agencies including State and domestic and international airline organizations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for action. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. There is no indication that the President saw it, but on September 14, Laird wrote to Kissinger “pursuant to the decision of the President that we should provide military personnel on U.S. Flag air carriers, we propose to detail the necessary military personnel to the Department of Transportation.” Tab B was attached and is printed in Public Papers: Nixon, 1970, pp. 742-743.

57. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger reported that the hijackers’ deadline had been extended by 72 hours and the situation in Amman was becoming very tense.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information.

58. Telegram 1857 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State

The telegram transmitted the text of a UN Security Council resolution that expressed grave concern about the hijackings.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Unclassified. Repeated to Algiers, Beirut, Bern, Bonn, London, Moscow, Paris, Tel Aviv, USINT Cairo, the U.S. mission to Geneva, and the consulate in Jerusalem.

59. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with a midday report on the hijacking/hostage situation, noting that the PFLP was provisionally prepared to release women, children, and the sick in return for fedayeen in British, German, and Swiss custody.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information.

60. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with an evening report on the hijacking situation and provided an analysis of the PFLP’s proposal.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information.

61. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Council (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with a midday report on the hijacking situation suggesting that the negotiations reached a critical stage, and “fantastic tension” existed within the PFLP.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information. The memorandum is an unsigned copy.

62. Telegram 4591 From the Embassy in Jordan to the Embassy in Switzerland

Chargi O Dell saw no point in approaching Jordanian authorities or Arab League officials for assistance because governments could only minimally influence the hijackers. He recommended against any military action.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated immediate to Rogers.

63. Information Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State

The memorandum provided a summary of international U.S. anti-hijacking efforts.

Source: National Archives, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Stevenson and Malmborg.

64. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Council (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger provided the President with an update on the hijackers’ demands. He noted that the three hijacked aircraft had been blown up after the removal of all passengers. The hijackers announced that all but 40 hostages had been released and were free to leave Jordan. Kissinger also mentioned that the ICRC was withdrawing from its role as negotiator.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information.

65. Telegram 149944 From the Department of State to the Embassies in Switzerland, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, and the Consulate in Geneva

The Department encouraged stocktaking of the hijacking situation and provided advice to all recipient posts to continue the “cool, prudent approach” in maintaining the unity of the group negotiating with the PFLP.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Sisco and Beaudry, and approved by Sisco.

66. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Council (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger reported to the President that 350 passengers had been removed from Jordan, but that more than 50 hostages, mostly Americans, remained in PFLP hands.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information.

67. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Council (Kissinger)

Saunders reported that the NSC was expecting new information on the hijacking situation since an ICRC representative would soon be meeting with the Bern Group.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret.

68. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Council (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger reported on the results of the Bern Group meeting with the ICRC.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings. Secret. Sent for information.

69. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Jordan and Switzerland

The Department agreed with the view that the Jordanian Government should assume a greater role in the hostage crisis.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Scotes, cleared by Seelye, Davis, and Beaudry, and approved by Sisco. Repeated to Bonn, London, Tel Aviv, and USUN New York.

70. Memorandum From the Legal Advisor (Stevenson) to Secretary of State Rogers

Stevenson briefed Rogers on three anti-hijacking initiatives to be discussed at the ICAO meeting in Montreal on September 18.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 4. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Rhinelander. Copies were sent to Sisco and Meadows. Tabs A-C were attached but not published.

71. Telegram 153122 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon and Other Posts

The telegram consists of excerpts from Secretary of Transportation Volpe’s statement that was to be delivered before the ICAO council.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Priority; Limited Official Use. Drafted by Gravatt and approved by Meadows (E/OA).

72. Telegram From the Department of State to the U.S. Mission to NATO

The Department outlined a major presentation on anti-hijacking measures scheduled to be presented at the CCMS meeting in October.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Confidential. Repeated to all NATO capitals. Drafted by H. C. Blaney; cleared by Moynihan and Stevenson and DOT/FAA, OST, SCI, EUR, E/AV, and Behr in substance; and approved by Springsteen (EUR).

73. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Jordan, Switzerland, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, and Israel

The telegram contained excerpts from Secretary Rogers’ discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Meir on the hijacking and hostage problem in Amman.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, AV 12. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by H. H. Stackhouse (NEA/IAI) on September 18, cleared by Atherton and Seeley, and approved by Sisco.

74. Memorandum From Robert M. Behr of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig)

Moynihan had told interested agencies that the President wanted to use CCMS as a forum to deal with the hijacking problem.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings II. Confidential. Sent for information. Tab A was attached but not published.