REPLY TO EILTS MESSAGE ON NAMRU

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-44-5-22-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: March 6, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

? +~ No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/17: LOC-HAK-44-5-22-3
07" lip
MEMORANDUM
SECRET/ SENSITIVE (XGDS)
DOS, NSS, review
completed
(Outside System)
MEMORANDUM FOR: GENERAL SCOWCROFT
HAROLD H. SAUNDERS
WILLIAM B. QUANDT
SUBJECT: Reply to Eilts Message on NAMRU
The subject of Ambassador Eilts'message at Tab B is the Naval
Medical Research Unit (NAMRU). It is one of those US institutions
in Egypt that survived the break in diplomatic relations in 1967.
The purpose of NAMRU is to conduct research on tropical diseases,
a function it has performed effectively since World. War II. It has a
sizable American staff and is located on the outskirts of Cairo.
NAMRU has normally had cordial relations with the Egyptian Ministry
of Health.
Ambassador Eilts' message does not require a substantive reply,
but we have attached at Tab A a brief acknowledgement that the
Secretary or you could send to Eilts.
RECOMMENDATION: That you seek the Secretary's approval to
send the message at Tab A.
Approve
XGDS-3
DECLAS - Date Impossible to Determine
BYAUTH - Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
SECRET/ SENSITIVE (XGDS)
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/17: LOC-HAK-44-5-22-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/17: LOC-HAK-44-5-22-3
SECRET/SENSITIVE
March 11, 1974
TO: AMBASSADOR EILTS
FROM; SECRETARY KISStNGER
I7
Thank you for sending me the report on NAMRU. Your
approach to Fahmi was correct and,hopefully, will enable us to
avoid unnecessary problems here and there.
Warm regards.
SECRET/SENSITIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/17: LOC-HAK-44-5-22-3
 ROUTINE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/17: LOC-HAK-44-5-22-3
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R 0514112 MAR 74
FM CAIRO
TO WHITE HOUSE
25X1
S E C R ET SENSITIVE EYES ONLY 051325Z MAR 74
MARCH 5, 1974
TO: SECRETARY KISSINGER
FROM: AMBASSADOR EILTS, CAIRO 124
1, FOR PAST TWO MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN PRESSED BY CULTURAL SECTION
OF FOREIGN MINISTRY TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS F 7R A NEW NAMRU P'LICY
AGREEMENT. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN NAMRU LEAST WAS RENEWED LAST JULYS
MINISTER OF HEALTH SOUGHT TO INSIST ON INCL?JSION OF SEVERAL OPERATIONAL
MATTERS WHICH WOULD IN EFFFCT'HAVE GIVEN EGYPTIANS COEQUAL STATUS IN
NAMRU. NAMRU CHIEF OBJECTED AND MANAGED TO GFT THESE PROVISIONS KEPT
OUT OF THE LEASE, BUT MINISTER OF HEALTH THEN ASKED FOREIGN! MINISTRY
TO HANDLE MATTER ON A MORE FORMAL GOVERNMENT-TO--GOVERNMENT LEVEL.,
AFOREMENTIONED CULTURAL SECTION'S APPROACHES ARE THE RESULT.
2, I HAVE DELIBERATELY DELAYEn GIVING MV ANSWER TO THE rULTURAL
SECTION SINCE I KNOW US NAVY FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT NOT GETTI?!G EGYPTIANS
ANY MORE INTO THE NALIRU) ACT. WHEN WITH FAHA.{Y TODAY, I TOLD HIM ABOUT
THE PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED 7N A PURELY PERSONAL BASIS THAT H7 SHOULD
FOR THE TIME BEING GET THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND HIS CULTURAL
SECTION TO DROP THE SUBJECT. GIVEN WHAT I UNDERSTAND ARE ZUMWALT'S
NEGATIVE VIEWS ON SUEZ CANAL REOPENING AND DTWER MATTERS OF INTEREST
TOO EGYPT AND THE JOB D;: CO1nITIfNING IT WILL TAKE WITH HIM t.ND SOME OF
THE OTHER ADM!PALS, I DOOI*1TED OUT THAT IT IS IN NEITHER OF ^UR INTERESTS
TO MUDDY THE WATERS BY PRESSING NnW ON WHAT IS BASICALLY A -INOR ISSUES
BUT ONE WHICH COULD GET NAVY BACKS UP.
3. FAHMY KNEW NOTHING _SOUT THE CULTURAL SECTION'S APPe?rACHES..
HE IMMEDIATELY AGREED AND UNDERTOOK TO GET TN TOUCH WITH Tw= MINISTER
OF HEALTH TO ASK HIM TO LAY OFF. HE SAID HC WILL ALSO ARRA`iGE THAT I
CALL ON THE MINISTER TO DISCUSS NAMRU OPERATION, WHICH I SATO I WOULD
OF COURSE BE PLEASED TO DO. AS FOR HIS CULTURAL SECTION, HG TOLD ME
SIMPLY TO IGNORE ITS APPROACHES ON THE SUBJECT.
4. HOWEVER, SINCE WE MUST WnRK WITH CULTURAL SECTION ON OTHER
MATTERS, I SUBSEQUENTLY ASLeED SIRRI TO LET HIS CULTURAL COLLEAGUES
KNOW THE MINISTER DOES NOT WANT THE NAMRU ISSUE PUSHED.
BT
350
* * * * * * * * * * * *WHSR COMMENT * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HAK,SCOWCROFT,MCFARLANE,RODMAN
RECALLED
PSN:027505 PAGE 01 0P 01 TOR:064/14:21Z DTG:051411Z MAR 74
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/07/17: LOC-HAK-44-5-22-3