Cable No. 4923, Foreign Minister to the Ambassador to the United States, 'Meeting of the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Mansfield (Problem of the Release of the American Hostages in Lebanon)'

Number: 081596-002

Draft Telegram

Drafted:  September 24, 1985

Primary: North American Affairs Bureau Director-General

To: Ambassador to the United States      

From: Foreign Minister

Meeting of the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Mansfield (Problem of the Release of the American Hostages in Lebanon)

No. 4923 Secret Urgent (Priority Processing)

(Limited Distribution)

Re: Outgoing Telegram 4921

In discussion of initial outgoing telegram, the Vice-Minister informed Ambassador Mansfield that Special Envoy Nakayama, while visiting Syria as a member of a Japan-Syria friendship mission, talked with Foreign Minister Shara a second time on the 21^st after an initial meeting with him on the 19^th.  The Foreign Minister at the second meeting said that there had been no particular progress in the past few days, that Syria’s influence was limited in regard to Lebanon’s various groups, but that his government was making every effort there. His tone was relatively optimistic. Ambassador Mansfield asked about the hostage problem’s relationship to the terrorists imprisoned in Kuwait. The Vice-Minister said that Foreign Minister Shara did not touch on it but that our side is making efforts in regard to Kuwait so that the government there does not take any rash action. In addition, the Vice-Minister said that Iran is seen as having extremely limited influence in this matter.

Passed to United Nations (VVVVV). (End)