Cable No. 391, Foreign Minister to the Charge d'Affaires in Syria [Tsujita], 'Office Memorandum'

Number: 065672-001

Draft Telegram

Drafted:  August 2, 1985

Primary: First Middle East Division

To: Charge d’Affaires to Syria     

From: Foreign Minister

Office Memorandum

No. 391 Confidential Urgent (Priority Processing) QQQQQ

From: First Middle East Division Director Ijuin

Having received word from Ambassador Kato, now in Germany, I am contacting you.

As there has been absolutely no response from the Embassy in Syria to the telegram from Frankfurt, I request a telegram to Syria again from the Ministry the following points:

1. At present, he is making arrangements to return to post via AZ and RB. An earlier flight is simply not possible.

2. In the event of important instructions from the Ministry, I request that you promptly handle them as follows:

(a) Please call [Foreign Minister’s] Cabinet Director Muallem (direct number 330906, can be contacted in the afternoon after 5:00), meet him, and ask for appointments.

Please say that Kato is absent and that you are the charge d’affaires. Please write the instructions in English and Arabic as a note verbale and take it with you.

(b) Please make the same request of the Chief of Protocol and Asian Affairs Bureau Director-General Doreei [TN: as transliterated] and request their assistance with entering and departing Syria (note verbale). Make sure that you say it.

(c) Please do not make the request of Cabinet Director Muallem in a perfunctory way but emphasize that you have come with personal instructions from the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. In particular, please give the additional explanation about a personal message from Foreign Minister Abe for Foreign Minister Shara. If possible, make the request in saying that there were instructions from Minister Abe requesting a direct meeting with Minister Shara. After talking with Cabinet Director Muallem, please meet Minister Shara, if possible.

(d) Please report to the Ministry promptly Minister Shara’s response. Please urge him as appropriate so that we may have an answer within 24 hours.

(e) Hayashi, needed for interpreting, is on leave, so please contact him to have him return without delay. If Hayashi cannot return to post in time on account of being unable to book a flight or some other reason, please ask the Ministry right away to dispatch an interpreter from a neighboring diplomatic mission.

(f) Please call me daily at 9:00 in the morning, Syria time, at the hotel. Please go through the telephone exchange. (End)