80. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Council (Kissinger) to the Chairman of the Under Secretaries Committee1 2

SUBJECT:

  • Possible Actions Against Countries Which Are Uncooperative on Hijacking

You will recall that the President, in his September 11 statement on air piracy, said the U.S. would hold those countries in which hijacked planes are landed responsible for taking steps to protect the lives and property of U.S. citizens.

This seems an appropriate matter for the Under Secretaries Committee. Will you please have prepared a package which should include the following subjects:

  • …a list of those countries which have been or might be expected to be uncooperative in this regard;
  • …an indication of the full range of possible multilateral and bilateral sanctions we might use against each country in this event, including such things as airline rights, trade sanctions, actions on loans, etc.

We would like to have this package by November 13.

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 330, Hijackings II. No classification marking.
  2. Kissinger asked the committee to prepare a list of countries that were expected to be uncooperative during hijackings, as well as a list of possible sanctions that could be used against them.