Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXXIV, Energy Diplomacy and Global Issues

302. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Mexico¹

Washington, August 9, 1968, 2141Z.

218668. Ref: Mexico’s 6405.² Subject: Hijacking.

1. Unless Embassy perceives objections, Department will tell Hammarskjold that Mexican approach to Cubans is underway. Would not disclose detail of approach or manner by which that detail or fact of approach available to USG.

2. We have undertaken to keep Hammarskjold generally informed as to Mexican progress. When Hammarskjold conferred with us in Washington on August 1³ just prior to his meeting with Cuban UN rep in New York⁴ (which meeting he undertook at our behest), we told him had asked GOM to approach GOC subject hijacking. He asked to be kept informed of developments from this direction. We told him we would keep him informed.

3. Hammarskjold’s further efforts with the Cubans in New York would be facilitated by his at least generally knowing as much as his Cuban counterpart.

4. We do not perceive that merely telling Hammarskjold that the Mexican approach is in train, without more, would prejudice the confidentiality of Embassy’s reftel transaction with the GOM FonOff this subject.

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Central Files, 1967–69, AV 12 US. Confidential; Limdis; No Distribution Outside Department. Drafted by Feehan (OA/AVP), cleared by Chaplin (ARA/MEX) and Richard Frank (L/ARA), and approved by Loy.
2. Dated August 8. (Ibid., AV 12)
3. See Document 301.
4. Hammarskjold and Gazdik met with Cuba’s Ambassador to the United Nations and proposed that the Cubans make a statement “to the effect that (a) they will abide by the hijacking element of the Tokyo Convention as if it were in effect and applicable to them; (b) they will consider hijacking a criminal act which should be punished; and (c) they will, upon request, consider returning a hijacker, based either on a treaty of extradition or in accordance with principles of reciprocity.” The Cubans did not respond. (Memorandum of conversation, September 27; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Central Files, 1967–69, AV 12 US)