Office of the Historian

387. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

Washington, November 23, 1979

1. Pakistan: The evacuation is proceeding smoothly with the Pan Am charter, which will be met by Dave Newsom, scheduled to arrive at Dulles at 8:45 tonight. We are establishing a processing center at State tomorrow morning to assist with funds, travel arrangements, and [Page 872] administrative and personnel problems. The remains of Marine Sgt. Crowley and Warrant Officer Ellis are scheduled to be brought back on a special military transport early next week.2

There were no further significant demonstrations in Pakistan today, although some groups were threatening marches to protest the student deaths at the Embassy. Demonstrations at our Embassy in Dacca and Consulate General in Calcutta were contained by police. Ambassadors Goheen and Schneider closed our Embassies and Consulates in India and Bangladesh today as a precautionary measure.

Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Agha Shahi has told Ambassador Hummel that an investigatory commission will be established to look into the GOP’s handling of the attack on American facilities. He asked, and Hummel agreed, that we cooperate in the investigation. He also offered full compensation for the damage to the Embassy.3

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Sultan Muhammad Khan was called in to State by Deputy Assistant Secretary Constable. Constable reiterated your and my appreciation for the assistance provided by the Pakistan Government. At the same time he noted the importance we attach to the Commission’s inquiry into the response to our requests for help in rescuing our personnel trapped in the Embassy.4

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 22, Evening Reports (State): 11/79. Secret. Carter wrote “Cy, J” at the top of the memorandum.↩
  2. In the left-hand margin next to this paragraph, Carter wrote: “We must work out for each nation a plan to defend diplomatic. We should prepare thru St, DoD, NSC a specific proposal for every country.”↩
  3. In telegram 303414 to all diplomatic and consular posts, November 23, the Department reported Hummel’s November 22 discussion with Shahi. During the meeting, Shahi “categorically denied that any Pakistan radio had ever broadcast hints that the US or Israel had been responsible for the Mecca attack.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790539–0091)↩
  4. In telegram 305314 to the British Embassy in Washington, November 24, the Department reported Constable and Sultan Khan’s November 23 meeting. During the discussion: “Stressing the need for quick reaction forces, Constable noted that had help arrived early when the demonstrators were still outside the Embassy, the ensuing tragedy might have been averted. Constable also expressed concern over the absolutely untrue statement in the quasi-official ‛Pakistan Times’ that Marines had fired on the crowd and thereby provoked the rioters. He stated categorically that no American weapons were fired during the entire episode.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790542–0693)↩