Cable No. 5954, Ambassador Matsunaga to the Foreign Minister, 'Problem of the Release of the American Hostages'

Number: R107324

Primary: Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Director-General

Sent: United States, August 06, 1985, 23:48

Received: MOFA, August 07, 1985, 12:50

To: Foreign Minister      

From: Ambassador Matsunaga

Problem of the Release of the American Hostages

No. 5954 Secret Urgent (Priority Processing)

(Limited Distribution)

Re: Your Telegram, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Director-General’s Telegram No. 3965

1. On the 5^th, I made a telephone call to President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs McFarlane. I conveyed to him the points in your initial telegram and asked that he deliver them to President Reagan. President’s Assistant McFarlane said the following:

“Thank you for the information. We highly appreciate the Government of Japan for promptly taking measures, and I would like to express our deep gratitude. I will report this immediately to the President.”

2. On the 6^th, while paying a call on Secretary Shultz for another matter, I gave him a similar report. The Secretary said the following:

“Thank you for the information. I highly appreciate the efforts of the Prime Minister, your Minister, and the Government of Japan at the time of the TWA hostage incident and hope that the present efforts will be successful. I firmly believe that the accumulation of such efforts by the Government of Japan will contribute to the resolution of this situation.” (End)