254. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt1
151843. Subject: Message for Sadat.
1. Please convey following to Sadat as soon as possible:
—We appreciate very much his reaction to our suggestions about how we can best proceed in the effort to get a new more meaningful phase of negotiations started.2
—His willingness to reconsider Egyptian paper on West Bank/Gaza issues and his positive reaction to our specific comments as to how it might be made into more fully developed negotiating document are very helpful. We look forward to receiving revised Egyptian paper, and we are confident that if changes are made along lines we have suggested, Egypt’s putting forward its proposal at appropriate time will serve as useful contribution to negotiations.3
—We also appreciate Sadat’s willingness to consider resuming direct contact with Israelis in the form of meeting between Kamel and Dayan. We believe this will be discussed with him.
—We are still awaiting conclusion of Israeli Cabinet deliberations over our questions.4 Subject was raised but not resolved at meeting on June 12. We understand intensive private discussions are underway between Begin and his chief lieutenants in effort to hammer out agreement on replies in preparation for next formal Cabinet session.
—We cannot predict when process will be completed or what Israeli replies will be. But on assumption we will have them by early next week, and that they will give us something to work with (if not everything we would have wished) we would like to seek Sadat’s preliminary reaction to following which flows from his suggestion.
—Assuming Israelis also agree (we have not yet broached matter with Israelis pending Sadat’s reaction), White House would announce that President Carter had proposed that Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Israel meet in a convenient third country with Secretary Vance also at[Page 1156]tending. Two sides had agreed to do so in London (this would be most convenient from our point of view) between June 25–28.
—Suggested dates are most convenient for Secretary (in fact it would be difficult because of important prior commitments for Secretary to schedule his presence at a time other than this) and we hope they are also convenient to GOE.
—Meeting at this time fits in with ensuing steps we have in mind. It is of course our hope that discussions between Foreign Ministers will prove fruitful and that both sides will see reason to continue them either in place or at some other venue. Roy Atherton will be available to stay on for as long as talks continue and US presence is desired. If talks end when Secretary departs, and if parties agree, Atherton would proceed to area for the further consultations which Sadat has indicated he desires. Atherton would also visit Israel. This could be preparatory to a visit to Israel, Egypt and probably Jordan and Saudi Arabia by Secretary Vance during July if developments warrant and schedule permits such a trip. Present thinking is that Secretary would then undertake consultations in effort to produce agreement on set of principles that would open way for resumed negotiations and renewal of invitation to other parties to join.
—We would appreciate any preliminary comments Sadat might have on this scenario and his specific reaction to suggestion of meeting of the Foreign Ministers in London June 25–28 to discuss Israeli responses to US questions, Egyptian counter-proposal, and any other subjects they wish to raise.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780249–0479. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Cherokee. Drafted by Sterner; cleared by Saunders, Atherton, Quandt, and David Anderson (S/S); and approved by Newsom.↩
- For Sadat’s reaction, see Document 253.↩
- Telegram 15183 from Cairo, June 15, transmitted a revised Egyptian West Bank/Gaza counterproposal. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850071–1582)↩
- For the two questions, see footnote 3, Document 248.↩