Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIX, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1967

123. Telegram From the Embassy in Portugal to the Department of State¹

Lisbon, June 1, 1967, 1700Z.

1514. Dept pass President and SecState only from Robert Anderson.

1. I spent more than two hours Wednesday night² with President Nasser. There was no opportunity to send message from there or to brief Embassy Cairo on conversation. I plan to return New York Saturday or Sunday. Please advise me whether you would like for me to dictate and send a full review of my conversation with President Nasser or wait until I return.

2. I discussed with him possibility Marshal Amer or Zakaria Mohieddin coming to United Nations for routine visit and then going secretly with me to Washington to see President and SecState. Nasser replied that he could not send Amer because of crisis, but would very much like to send Zakaria Mohieddin and would have him there Sunday or Monday if he received a message from me confirming that Zakaria Mohieddin could secretly visit with President and explain all of Nasser’s points of view. He asked me if any exploration of this subject had been made before I left and I replied affirmatively. However, before Zakaria Mohieddin should come, I would want to confirm that President would see him under these circumstances. I earnestly recommend that Zakaria Mohieddin be received and have an opportunity of visiting with President and SecState. I have arranged to send message from here through Embassy Cairo which will be understood by Nasser and Zakaria Mohieddin will leave immediately if your rely to me is affirmative.

3. In all my years of visiting Middle East I believe that this is the most tense time I have ever observed and Arab unity is almost unanimous. Nasser is supremely confident, but I think earnestly desires friendship of US. He took great pains to explain his feelings and to express the hope Zakaria Mohieddin could visit with President. I will appreciate your advising me soonest in order that I may send cable to Nasser and know whether or not to send full text of my meeting with Nasser from here or to wait until my return.³

Wellman

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 US/ANDERSON. Top Secret; Immediate; Exdis; Handled as Nodis. Received at 4:34 p.m. and passed to the White House at 5 p.m.
2. May 31.
3. Telegram 206060 to Lisbon, June 1, asked Anderson for a detailed summary of his report as soon as possible. In telegram 206614 to Lisbon, June 1, Rusk told Anderson that the President would like to see a cable report on the most significant points made by Nasser as soon as possible after his return. It further stated that the President would be glad to receive Mohieddin privately if he came to the United Nations. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 US/ANDERSON)