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Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976 Volume E–1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969–1972, Document 114

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
INFORMATION
November 1, 1972
  • MEMORANDUM FOR:
  • MR. KISSINGER
  • FROM:
  • RICHARD T. KENNEDY
  • SUBJECT:
  • Status of USG Actions Against Terrorism
This memo will bring you up to date on action taken since the Presidential September 25th directive to mount an all-out campaign against politically motivated international terrorism. In addition to the Cabinet Committee chaired by Secretary Rogers and its supporting Working Group headed by Armin Meyer, three other interagency action groups are refining plans to protect against, or react quickly to, acts of terrorism.

All of our diplomatic missions abroad have been given detailed guidance on how to protect our personnel and missions from terrorist acts.

Jurisdictional responsibilities within the USG are being worked out so that government agencies can respond quickly, effectively, and in full cooperation should an act of terrorism occur in the U.S.

The FBI will play the predominant role in immediately assuming responsibility. 75 FBI agents recently met at Quantico to review methods for forestalling and reacting to acts of terrorism,

Procedures have been devised to give foreign diplomats and special guests added protection while in the United States. The recently passed H.R. 15883 makes acts of terrorism against foreign diplomats and specified guests a federal offense, thereby strengthening the Government's hand to deal with such acts.

10-day transit visas have been suspended and visa applicants are very carefully screened against lists of known or suspected terrorists. Several have been spotted by this process and kept out of the country.

Source:  http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve01/d114

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