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1553700
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Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1)
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doc
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1
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id
1553700
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document
title
Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1)
collections
Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific (Ford Administration)
East Asia and Pacific Country Files
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Japan
Soviet Union
Defections
Military aircraft
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1553700
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1976-09-30
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9
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1976
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1976-09-01
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9
year
1976
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The original documents are located in Box 7, folder "Japan - MIG - Incident (1)" of Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 7 of the Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013707 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Intelligence Report DESCRIPTION Re Soviet combat readiness CREATION DATE 09/1976 VOLUME 5 pages COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Saintized 9/21/05 Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PC_EA_P-7-2-1-5 DECLASSIFIED with postion AUTHORITY RAC Review 9/21/05 BY th NLF, DATE 5/11/07 :1 COMBAT READINESS, STRENGTH, ORGANIZATION, AND EQUIPMENT OF THE 25X1 25X1 THIS REPORT WAS PREPARED BY THE U.S. AIR FORCE AND THE DEFENSE IMM ELIIGENCE AGENCY AND IS BEING CIRCULATED IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 25X1 5:00 CHANNEIS . AS TR 1 517 0403 76. 25X1 1. 5 4 3 2 1 . SECRET Approved For Release 2005/09/21 . NLF-PC EA R-7-2-1-5 DIA review(s) completed. USAF review(s) completed. classification) FORD A LIBRARY GLARTO Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PC_EA_P-7-2-1-5 25X1 :1 2. THE NORMAL TABLE OF ORGANIZATION AND 1 EQUIPMENT (T/O AND E) FOR A PVO FIGHTER REGIMENT WAS 36 INTERCEPTORS. A REGIMENT CONSISTED OF THREE SQUADRONS OF TWELVE AIRCRAFT EACH. SQUADRONS WERE FURTHER DIVIDED INTO FLIGHTS OF FOUR AIRCRAFT AND FLIGHTS WERE DIVIDED INTO PAIRS OF AIRCRAFT. 3. IN ADDITION TO COMBAT AIRCRAFT, FIVE TO SIX NONCOMBAT CAPABLE TRAINERS WERE INITIALLY ASSIGNED TO A REGIMENT WHEN IT WAS BEING REEQUIPPED WITH NEW AIRCRAFT. THESE WERE RETAINED DURING THE PILOT FAMILIARIZATION PHASE OF TRAINING BUT ONLY TWO TO THREE TRAINERS WERE RETAINED ONCE FULL COMBAT READINESS WAS REACHED. SQUADRONS CONVERTED TO NEW AIRCRAFT ONE AT A TIME. AD- JACENT REGIMENTS, IF ANY, ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SECTOR DURING INITIAL TRAINING. 25X1 4. T/O AND E HAD ONLY A PAPER VALUE. REGIMENT WAS EQUIPPED ONLY WITH 25 INTERCEPTORS AND FOUR TRAINERS, ONE OF WHICH WAS ALREADY INOPERATIVE. FEW REPLACEMENT 25X1 AIRCRAFT WERE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE DAMAGED OR LOST. WHEN AVAILABLE, 5 5 4 THESE WERE LONG IN ARRIVING. WHEN ASKED ABOUT REPLACEMENTS FOR 4 3 3 2 AIRCRAFT ROTATED FOR MAINTENANCE, 25X1 1 1 SECRET Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PC_EA_P-7-2-1-5 (classification) (dissem controls) Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PU_EA_P-7-2-1-5 1 :1 5. REGIMENT WAS NOT EXPECTED TO REACH FULL COMBAT CAPABILITY FOR TWO YEARS AFTER RECEIPT OF THEIR FIRST SQUADRON OF MIG-25'S IN AUGUST 1975. AT THAT POINT THEY WOULD NORMALLY BEGIN PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON TRAINING NEWLY ASSIGNED PILOTS FOR TRANSFER TO REGIMENTS ELSEWHERE WHICH WERE SCHEDULED TO BE REEQUIPPED WITH MIG-25'S. (1) 6. THESE PROCEDURES WERE (PVO?) FORCE WIDE. ONLY FOUR OF THE ORIGINAL MIG-17 PILOT COMPLEMENT AT SOK- OLOVKA WERE RETRAINED TO FLY MIG-25'S AND ONE SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED 25X1 DUE TO HIS INABILITY TO RELY ON INSTRUMENTS. A LOW OPINION OF BOTH THE MIG-17 AND ITS PILOTS.) PILOTS THAT FLY THE MIG-25 WERE NORMALLY DRAWN FROM ESTABLISHED COMBAT-READY REGIMENTS EQUIPPED WITH LATE MODEL SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT SUCH AS THE (1) SU-15 [FLAGON]. MOST OF THE MIG-17 PILOTS FROM HIS REGIMENT WERE TRANSFERED TO THE FEW REMAINING MIG-17 REGIMENTS IN THE FORCE WHEN THE REGIMENT REEQUIPPED. IT WAS BECOMING EVIDENT THAT THERE WERE FEWER AND FEWER SLOTS FOR THESE PILOTS. (1) :1 7. THE SUBORDINATION, LOCATION, AND COMBAT 5 READINESS OF REGIMENTS IN THE 11TH AIR ARMY AS FOLLOWS: 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 SECRET Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PC_EA_P-7-2-1-5 (classification) (diss Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PC_EA_P-7-2-1-5 5X1 REGIMENTAL AIRFIELD SUBORDINATION AIRCRAFT PILOT READINESS UGLOVOYE HQ 23RD CORPS SU-9/MIG-23 NONE# SPASSK DALNIY 23RD CORPS YAK- 28P FULL SOKOLOVKA 23RD CORPS MIG- 25 POOR# ZOTOPAYA DOLINA (IGNASHI) 23RD CORPS SU-15TM FULL VELIKAYA KEMA SQUADRON 23RD CORPS 16 TO 18 MIG-17 FULL# 10TH DISTRICT (NEAR KHABAROVSK ) (POSS HQ) SU-9/MIG-23 POOR## PEREYASLAVKA KHABAROVSK DIVISION SU-15 FULL SOVETSKAYA GAVAN KHABAROVSK DIVISION MIG-17 FULL## SMIRNYKH KHABAROVSK DIVISION YAK-28P FULL YELIZOVO KANCHATKA DIVISION SU-15TM PARTIAL## BUREVESTNIK KURILES DIVISION MIG-17 FULL ANADYR ? TWO SQUADRONS YAK-28P ONE SQUADRON MIG-19 FULL 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 RALL FL FORD NEBRARI 2 il 1 SECRET I (classification) (disse Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PC_EA_P-7-2-1-5 a Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PO_EA_P-7-2-1-5 5X1 # OVERALL COMBAT CAPABILITY OF THE 23RD CORPS IS QUITE LOW. TWO OUT OF FOUR REGIMENTS ARE UNDERGOING TRAINING IN NEW AIRCRAFT. THE MIG-17'S PERFORMANCE AS AN INTERCEPTOR IS VERY POOR. ## REGIMENTS UNDERGOING TRAINING IN NEW AIRCRAFT (SUCH AS THE YELIZOVO UNIT WHICH REGAN IN EARLY 1975) OR THOSE EQUIPPED WITH OBSOLETE MIG-17'S. 8. AIRCRAFT FROM REGIMENTS WHICH HAD BEEN REEQUIPPED FELL INTO TWO CATAGORIES. MIG-17 S AND MIG-19 S WERE RETURNED TO AIRCRAFT FACTORIES FOR CONVERSION INTO TARGET DRONES, MIG-15 TRAINERS WERE MOTHBALLED. MORE MODERN AIRCRAFT SUCH AS THE S0-9, YAK-28, ETC., WERE REFURBISHED AND OFTEN USED TO REPLACE EVEN OLDER AIRCRAFT ELSE- WHERE IN THE FORCE. :1 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 1 SECRET Approved For Release 2005/09/21 : NLF-PC_EA_P-7-2-1-5 if GE RALD LIBRAR ? FORD 2 1 N F N A HCE398 ESA349SWA949 00 RUEHC RUFHGV DE RUEHKO #3352 2501120 ZNY CCCCC ZZH 0 0611047 SEP 76 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2065 INFO RUFHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1979 BT E 0 H # 1 D E N T 1 A t TOKYO 13352 E. n. 11652; XGDS-3 TAGS: SREF, US, JA, PFOR SUBJECT: DEFECTION OF SOVIET MIG-25 PILOT 1. MIG-25 FOXBAT LANDED 1355 SEPTEMBER 6, AT HAKODATE AIRPORT IN HOKKAIDO. FONDEF HAS INFORMED EMBASSY THAT PILOT HAS MADE WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUESTING POLITICAL ASYLUM IN US. 2. PILOT IS VIKTOR IVANOVITCH BELENKO, B. 15 FEB 1947 AN AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT STATIONED IN 23RD REGIONAL DISTRICT OF 11TH ARMY AT SAKAROVSKA BASE SITUATED BETWEEN NAHODKA AND KHABAROVSK. 3. ACCORDING TO FONOFF FIRST EAST EUROPEAN DIVDIR TOGO, SOVIET CONGEN SAPPORO AND EMBASSY TOKYO WAVE ASKED FOR ACCESS TO BELENKO. FONOFF HAS YET TO GIVE SEVS ANSWER, FONGEE REQUESTS SPEEDIEST POSSIBLE DEGISION ON PART OF USG, 4. LANDING OF MIG AND REQUEST FOR ASYLUM ARE TGP STORIES IN ALL JAPANESE MEDIA. US OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ISSUED STRICT "NO COMMENT" INSTRUCTIONS. SHOESMITH BT #3352 NNNN DECLASSIFIED DEPT. DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW 12956, SEC. 3.5 Retain Class'n Change to STATE E.O. DEPT, GUIDELINES, ELINES, staterisit 8/3/00 Declassify in part and excise as shown BY bill NARA, DATE 8/30/01 EO 12958, 25X ( )( )( ) X Declassify After With concurrence (not)(obtained) IPS by JOSEPH P. LEAMN Date U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE (RET.) AUG. 3 2000 RECALLED/ 00 040611 CSN: HCE 0398 1 1 250/13:14Z 061104Z *******C 0 N F 1 D E N T I A FORD LIBRARY is OF 7 3 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013708 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Telegram DESCRIPTION Re MIG-25 incident CREATION DATE 09/08/1976 VOLUME 3 pages COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Exempt 4/12/05 5/31/11 WH 4 OF STATE Department of State AMERICA TELEGRAM STATES OF CONFIDENTIAL 9896 PAGE 01 TOKYO 13490 0818197 44 ACTION SS-25 INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SSO-00 NSCE-00 CCO-00 /026 w 028463 n 0818052 SEP 76 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2127 e 0 L TOKYO 13490 EXDIS E.O. GDS TARS: PFOR, MARR, JA SUBJECT: SOVIET DEFECTOR EXSTS REF: STATE 221875 1. GOJ CLEARLY PREFERS DEFECTOR TRAVEL TO US BY CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT. AS PLAN NOW SHAPING UP HE WILL DEPART HANEDA ON REGULARLY SCHEDULED AIRCRAFT BETWEEN 1800 AND 1900 SEPTEMBER 9. WE WILL PROVIDE PRECISE DETAILS WHEN FIXED. SHOESMITH FORD LIBRARY & OERALD NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY CONFIDENTIAL hb 8/30/01 jb WH/COM 5 N 13. OF STATE * Department of State UNITED OF AMERICA CONFIDENTIAL NOD488 TELEGRAM PAGE 01 TOKYO 13489 0818252 - 47 ©Gen ACTION NODS-00 S INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 /001 W 028472 0 0617322 SEP 76 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO SECSTATE WASHOC IMMEDIATE 2126 STATE DEPT. DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW Retain Class'n Change to CONFIDENTIALTOKYO13489 Declassify in part and excise as shown N EO 12958, 25X( )( )( ) X Declassify After NODIS With concurrence (not)(obtained) PS by E.O. 11652: XGDS-3 JOSEPH P. LEAHY Date TAGS: PFOR, US, JA, SREF U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE (RET.) AUG. 3 2000 SUBJECT: MIG-25 D REF: STATE 220959 1. PRIOR TO DINNER FOR GOVERNOR SCRANTON SEPT 9 I WAS ABLE TO RAISE DIRECTLY WITH FOREIGN MINISTER MIYAZAWA QUESTION OF TECHNICAL EXAMINATION OF MIG 25. I PUT TO MIM OUR HIGH LEVEL AND INTENSE S INTEREST AS OUTLINED REFTEL. FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONDED THAT HE "FULLY SYMPATHETIC WITH OUR CONCERNS" AND STATED THAT HE COULD "ASSURE YOU THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO ANYTHING WHICH IS FEASIBLE AND WHICH IS NOT VISIBLE TO THE MEDIA TO FACILITATE YOUR PARTI- CIPATION IN AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE QUESTION I3 HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THIS". AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF WAYS IN WHICH THE PARTICIPATION OF AMERICAN EXPERTS MIGHT BE ARRANGED, N THE FOREIGN MINISTER CONCLUDED THE CONVERSATION BY OBSERVING THAT THE PRIME MINISTER IS "LEANING AWAY FROM YOUR DESIRES ON THIS". 2. FOLLOWING DINNER, FOREIGN MINISTER INVITED ME AND EMBOFF PLA' TO REMAIN FOR s FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION, AND ASKED HIS TOP ADVISERS TO JOIN US. THESE INCLUDED VICE MINISTER SATO, D DEPUTY MINISTER ARITA, DIRGENS YAMAZAKI, CAMERICAN AFFAIRS), NAKAJIMA (TREATIES BUREAU), AND TACHIBANA CEUROPEAN AFFAIRS-WHC WAS SUMMONED FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY FOR THIS MEETING). DURING 2 HOUR DISCUSSION FOLLOWING POINTS EMERGED: S A. JAPANESE FULLY AWARE OF HIGH U.S. INTEREST IN KNOWING AS MUCH SONFIDENTIAL 1 FORD & DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12956, SEC. 3.5 STATE DEPT, GUIDELINES, stavisisit 8/3/00 GERALD LIBRARY BY 66 9 NARA, DATE 8/30/01 NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY N OF STATE Department of State UNITED OF AMERICA TELEGRAM CONFIDENTIAL STATES PAGE 02 TOKYO 13489 0818257 ABOUT AIRCRAFT AS POSSIBLE (MIYAZAWA DESCRIBED IT AS "JACKPOT"). S B. MODALITIES OF HANDLING PROBLEM MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH ACTIONS OF RESPONSIBLE INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT AND NOT PROVOCATIVE TO SOVIET UNION. C. AMERICAN PARTICIPATION MUST BE KEPT FROM PUBLIC VIEW. D. AIRCRAFT MUST BE RETURNED TO SOVIETS, THOUGH THERE NO CONSENSUS N ON TIMING. 3. MIYAZAWA KEPT RETURNING TO CONSIDERATION OF WAYS OF MOVING AIRCRAFT TO LOCATION WHICH WOULD PERMIT MAXIMUM DISCREET ACCESS BY AMERICAN EXPERTS. SINCE WE LACKED EXPERTISE TO MAKE JUDGMENT ON FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPROACH, I THEN FOCUSSED ON INTERIM MEASURES D DESIGNED TO INITIATE AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN EXAMINATION OF PLANE, SPECIFICALLY TO ARRANGE FOR EARLIEST INCLUSION OF THREE NISEI DOD CIVILIANS ON JDA SURVEY TEAM. I INSISTED THAT GOJ SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK OUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS MINIMUM FIRST STEP. WHEN QUESTION RAISED, I EXPRESSED DOUBT THAT OFFSITE CONSUL- TATION BETWEEN AMERICAN EXPERTS AND JDA TEAM WOULD MEET OUR NEEDS S BUT AGREED TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITY WITH U.S. EXPERTS. 4. COMMENT: EXTRAORDINARY MEETING CONVENED BY FOREIGN MINISTER TO DISCUSS OUR NEEDS DEMONSTRATES THAT HE IS GENUINELY CONCERNED TO FIND MEANS OF INSURING MAXIMUM EXPLOITATION OF AIRCRAFT WITH OUR PARTICIPATION. HOWEVER HE EVIDENTLY IS UNWILLING TO IGNORE WHAT HE THINKS WILL BE ADVERSE REACTION ON PART OF JAPANESE N PUBLIC AND SOVIETS TO KNOWLEDGE OF us PARTICIPATION IN SURVEY. THE FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BE RECEPTIVE TO ANY SUGGESTIONS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THAT FIT THE FRAME- WORK OF HIS CONCERNS. FOR THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, PROBABLY THE BEST WE CAN HOPE FOR IS TO OBTAIN DIRECT PARTICIPATION BY QUALIFIED NISEI PERSONNEL IN EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT AS PART D OF JDA TEAM. I WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS THIS COURSE WHILE EXPLORING OTHER ALTERNATIVES. SHOESMITH FORD & CONFIDENTIAL GERALD LIBRARY NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 6 OF STATE Department of State I AMERICA UNITED TELEGRAM OF EXE™S EXPE SECRET 0475 PAGE 01 STATE 222493 60 ORIGIN SS-25 INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SSO-00 NSCE-00 /026 R DRAFTED BY P:DAO DONOHUE:BDF APPROVED BY P:PCHABIB EA - MR. HUMMEL S/S - PSBRIDGES M - MR. EAGLEBURGER 031562 0 082204Z SEP 76 ZFF4 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY TOKYO NIACT IMMEDIATE s E e R E 7 STATE 222493 STATE DEPT. DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW Retain Class'n Change to EXDIS Declassify in part and excise as shown EO 12958, 25X )( )( ) E.O. 116521 GDS X Declassify After With concurrence (not)(obtained TAGS: MARR , JA IPS by Date JOSEPH P. LEAH AUG. 3 2000 SUBJECT: ACCESS TO MIG-25 AIRCRAFT U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE visit) 1. HABIB CALLED IN JAPANESE CHARGE NISHIDA TODAY TO EXPRESS IN CLEAR AND STRONG TERMS OUR CONCERN OVER CON- TINUING DELAY IN AFFORDING US ACCESS TO MIG-25. 2. STRESSING OUR CLOSE MUTUAL DEFENSE SECURITY RELATION- SHIP, HABIB SAID THAT USG AT HIGHEST LEVELS PUZZLED AND CONCERNED BY CONTINUED DELAY IN ALLOWING JOINT JDA/U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL ACCESS TO THE PLANE. HABIB POINTED OUT THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BOTH GOJ AND USG BY POSSESSION OF MIG-25. INDICATING HE SPEAKING UNDER INSTRUCTION, HABIB STRESSED IMPORTANCE OF UTILIZING THIS OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF OUR SECURITY INTERESTS AND REQUESTED THAT NISHIDA CONVEY IMMEDIATELY TO TOKYO THE HIGH-LEVEL CONCERN HERE ABOUT NEED FOR EARLIEST ACCESS TO FORD THE PLANE. IN THAT CONTEXT, HABIB POINTED OUT THAT WE & UNDERSTOOD NEED FOR DISCREET JOINT ACTION BUT REITERATED GERALD LIBRARY DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12956, SEC. 3.5 SEGRET STATE DEPT, GUIDELINES, stavisisit 8/3/00 BY 66 # NARA, DATE 8/30/01 NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FORM DS-1652 9.66 in STATE Department of State of / AMERICA TELEGRAM SECRET PAGE 02 STATE 222493 THAT WE MUST NOT LET THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY PASS. 3. NISHIDA SAID HE FULLY UNDERSTOOD IMPORTANCE USG ATTACHES TO THIS MATTER AND PROMISED TO CONVEY OUR VIEWS IMMEDIATELY. KISSINGER GERALD ? LIBRARY FORD SECRET NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FORM DS-1652 9.66 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013709 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL .... National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Telegram DESCRIPTION Re debriefing of MIG-25 pilot CREATION DATE 09/08/1976 VOLUME 2 pages COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Exempt 5/11/07 5/81/FL 8 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013710 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Telegram CREATOR'S NAME AMEMBASSY TOKYO RECEIVER'S NAME SECSTATE WASHDC TITLE Access to MIG-25 Aircraft CREATION DATE 09/09/1976 VOLUME 3 pages COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG DECLASSIFIED, with portions exempt E.O. 12956, SEC. 3.5 STATE DEPT, GUIDELINES staterist 8/4/00 BY Gh 1 NARA, DATE 9/7/01 REDACTED 2/3/10 8 20 SECRET *******5 topy IF IMMED 1511 the RUEHKO #3578 2531485 W913252 SEP 76 DECLASSIFIED w/ portions exempted #: AMEMBASBY TOKYO E.O. 12958 (as amended) SEC 3.3 MR # 09-84;4 my SECSTATE MASHIC N14CT IMMEDIATE 2156 state lts 2/3/10; CIA ear 2/3/10 By dal NARA, Date 4/1/10 MFO COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA JA IMMEDIATE MENSASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 3619 to C # E TOKYO 13575 IMDIS .0. 11552: ons AGS: PEOR, us, JA, SHEF, MARR JBJECT: ACCESS TO MIG-25 AIRCRAFT EFA 4. STATE 222586 8. TOKYO 13489 # IN COORDINATED SERIES OF REPRESENTATIONS SEPTEMBER 9, SENIOR *BASSY OFFICERS AND CONUSJARAN CONTINUED TO PRESS AT TOP LEVELS B GCJ AGENCIES INVOLVED HIGH LEVEL AND INTENSE USG CONCERN TO "SURE MAXIMUM EXPLOITATION OF MIG-25 AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO STAIN DIRECT PARTICIPATION OF AMERICAN EXPERTS, MEETINGS PRANCED DURING MORNING BY DEFATT WITH EFENSE NINISTER BAKATA FOR PURPOSE OF DELIVERING PERSONAL ESSAGES FROM RESPECTIVE AGENCY HEADS: ALSO MET ITH VICE MINDER MARUYAMA AND ACTING NATIONAL POLICE DIRGEN; *BOFFS REMAINED 14 CLOSE TOUCH THROUGHOUT DAY WITH FONMIN MERICAN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS BUREAUS, AND 1 HAVE FOLLOWED b LAST NIGHT'S DISCUSSION (REF 81 WITH DIRGENS DTH BUREAUS, COMUSIAPAN HAS REVIEWED SITUATION KITH DIRECTOR DINT STAFF OFFICE, THROUGHOUT WE HAVE STRESSED UNGENCY OF PRO- IDING PROMPT AND EFFECTIVE ACCESS BY AMERICAN EXPERTS FOR OFFICIENT PERIOD OF TIME TO PERMIT FULL INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE .SO URGED JDA CIVILIAN AND UNIFORMED OFFICIALS TO TAKE LEAD IN PRORTING THIS OBJECTIVE IN INTERMINISTERIAL DISCUSSIONS AND IN EVISING MAYS IN WHICH US ACCESS WILL 5£ ASSURED WITHOUT EXPOSING T To PUBLIC GLARE, WE ALSO HAVE INJECTED CAUTIONARY NOTE ON NEED D PROVIDE TIGHT SECURITY FOR AIRCRAFT. DN BASTS THESE CONTACTS AND REPRESENTATIONS, kp ARE REGINNING B SEE SOME SIGNS THAT THE BUREAUCRATIC MACHINERY MAY BE TURNING ROUND. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS MORNING AT SPECIAL CABINSZ *WHER COMMENT COM,HY,LL LL RECALLED PAGE P1 TOR:253/14:431 01619913257 SEP 70 ******* REGULA *******3 COPY FORD GURALD LIBRARY SECRET *******$ COPY FFICE MEETING OF OFFICIALS OF AGENCIES CONCERNED, CHAIRED BY EPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY KATFU, IT WAS AGREED THAT ONCE ELENKO HAD DEPARTED, MATTER SHOULD NO LONGER BE MANDLED AS RIMINAL CASE UNDER JUNISDICTION OF PROCURATORS BUT SHOULD BE URNED OVER TO NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORITIES -- I.E. JAPAN DEFENSE GENCY -- TO TAKE CUSTODY OF PLANE AND CONTINUE INVESTIGATION. HIS RECOMMENDATION HILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY CABINET OFFICERS, UT YAMAZAKI HAS TOLD NE THIS SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC. LEGAL ATIONALE WILL HAVE 10 BE DEVISED FOR JOA CUSTODY AND CONTINUING NVESTIGATION, HOMEVER, AND IT NOT CLEAR MOM SOON THIS SHIFT IN URISDICTION WILL TAKE PLACE. IT is, NONETHELESS, A STEP IN RIGHT INECTION. VICE MINISTER MARUYAMA HAS TOLD US THAT ONCE THIS STEP $ TAKEN, JOA THEN WILL PRESS FOR DECISION TO PERMIT JOA TO CALL N RTS MOST EXPERT PERSONS AVAILABLE TO EXAMINE AIRCRAFT UNITE the ... AMERICAN EXPERTS. . MOFA, JOA AND NATIONAL POLICE ARE OF ONE MIND THAT IT IS MPORTANT FOR U.S. TO GAIN ACCESS AND THEY SEEM TO BE COOPERATING ORE CLOSELY TO BRING THIS ABOUT, CURRENT JDA THINKING IS TO HOLD LANE FOR AT LEAST 81 DAYS FOR EXAMINATION. MARUYAMA SAID THIS IGHT BE EXTENDED IF NECESSARY, ALTHOUGH ME RECOGNIZED POLITICAL RESSURES MIGHT BUILD UP FOR RETURN. HARUYAMA, HOWEVER, DID NOT EEM TO BE UNDER ANY IMMEDIATE SENSE OF TIME PRESSURE CONCERNING ETURN OF PLANE. GENERALLY SPEAKING, JDA SEEMS TO BE MOVING INTO ORE POSITIVE, LEADING POSITION IN BEEKING RESOLUTION OF THIS ATTER, AND MARUYAHA HAS TOLD us THAT LETTERS FROM SECOEF RUMSPELD NO CIA DIRECTOR BUSH HAVE BEEN QUITE HELPFUL TO ITS EFFORTS, LIAISON BETWEEN US TECHNICAL EXPERTS NOW AT MISAWA AIR BASE ND JASDF INVESTIGATING TEAM AT HAKODATE (WHICM MAS BEEN OPER* TING TO DATE UNDER AFGIS OF PROCURATORS) NOW HAS BEEN AGREED PON. LIMITED AMOUNT OF DATE HAS BEEN PASSED, PRIMARILY PHOTO- RAPMS. IN OUR CONTACTS TODAY, HOWEVER, WE HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT HIS ARRANGEMENT COULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED A TEMPORARY STOP-GAP BETTER THAN NOTHING) AND THAT DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN EXAMINATION Y US EXPERTS IS ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE AND FULL EXPLOITATION, HAS TOLD DLCOUNSELOR THAT WHEN SOVIET AMBASSADOR POLYANSKY CALLED ON EPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ARITA AT 1483 THIS AFTERNOON, HE DEMANDED ETURN OF PILOT AND PLANE BUT DID NOT REVERT TO LEGAL ARGUMENT** ION USED IN EARLIER NOVIET EMBASSY PROTEST THAT AIRCRAFT HAS XTRATERNITORIAL CHARACTER. HF 010, HOWEVER, STATE THAT THIRD OUNTRY INVOLVEMENT WOULD HAVE UNFAVORABLE REPERCUSSIONS FOR OVIET. JAPANESE RELATIONS. ARITA COUNTERED WITH EXPRESSION OF URPRISE THAT SOVIETS NAVE THIS FAR NOT EXPRESSED REGRET FOR NCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE DONE GRAVE TO JAPAN'S SECURITY. HE NSISTED PILOT SOUGHT TO GO TO U.S. OF OWN FREE WILL, WHICH IT 5 JAPAN'S POLICY TO RESPECT. ARITA SAID ONLY THAT ME NOTED RECALLED SN1043745 PAGE 02 TOR:253/14:492 016:8913257 SEP 70 FORD SECRET COPY s J GERALD LIBRARY BECHET COPY ISHES OF BOVIETS RE RETURN OF AIRCRAFT AND WOULD CONVEY TO IGHER AUTHORITIES. HE REJECTED, HOWEVER, SOVIET REFERENCE TO HIRD COUNTRY PRESSURES AND SAID THAT AS INDEPENDENT COUNTRY APAN NOT SUBJECT TO SUCH PRESSURES, IN COMMENTING, SAID MAT HE HAS BEEN ARGUING THAT IT 15 IN JAPAN'S SECURITY INTERESTS 0 HOLD AIRCRAFT FOR INVESTIGATION AND THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE VEN MORE WEIGHT THAN ANY LEGAL ARGUMENTATION WHICH COULD BE ONSTRUED TOWARD THIS END, HE HAS POINTED OUT THAT, ASSUMING APAN KEPT PLANE FOR THREE OR FOUR NEEKS, IT WOULD SE IN DOG HOUSE 17M SOVIETS WHO WOULD ASSUME THAT AMERICANS HAD BEEN GIVEN ACCESS. HEREFORE, JAPAN SHOULD PROVIDE ACCESS WHICH US DESIRES AND NOT ET IN DIFFICULTIES WITH BOTH SOVIETS AND us. ME CAUTIONED, DREVER, THAT IT MIGHT TAKE A PEW DAYS FOR ARRANGEMENTS TO FALL NTO PLACE, POLCOUNSELOR URGED THAT DELAY COULD ONLY COMPOUND ROELPM AND SOONER ACCESS PROVIDED TO US EXPERTS THE BETTER, COMMENT: 1 AM ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT DESPITE SOME FOOT- RAGGING AT LOWER LEVELS, TOP LEVELS OF FOREIGN MINISTRY AND JDA MINISTER AND VICE MINISTER IN BOTH) AS WELL AS IN NATIONAL OLICE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE WITH OUR CONCERN FOR THOR* UGH EXPLOITATION OF AIRCRAFT, I BELIEVE THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT RACK TO INSURE RETENTION OF PLANE FOR SUFFICIENT TIME TO PERMIT EASONABLY COMPLETE EXAMINATION WITH DIRECT PARTICIPATION OF DUR XPERTS. 1 CANNOT JUDGE JUST HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO WORK OUT ME NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS, BUT THESE TOP OFFICIALS SEEM TO BE OVING WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. IN MEANTIME, 1 00 NOT THINK WE EED PEAR THAT GOJ WILL VIELD TO SOVIET DENANDS FOR PROMPT RETURN F PLANE. WE MUST KEEP ON THE PRESSURE, IF ONLY TO SUPPORT GOJ FFICIALS WHO ARE ANXIOUS TO COOPERATE WITH US. MOST SERIOUS TICKING POINT, HONEVER, EVIDENTLY IS PRIME MINISTER MIKI WHO PPARENTLY IS RELUCTANT TO ANTAGONIZE SOVIETS, I BELIEVE THAT OST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF MOVING MIKI IN DIRECTION FAVORABLE TO UR INTERESTS 18 PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT. HOESMITH T RECALLED SN1843745 PAGE 03 OF 63 TOR:253/14:492 07613913252 SEP 76 FORD & t e n t COPY ? GERALD LIBRARY / 9 OF STATE WH AMERICA UNITED Department of State TELEGRAM STATES of CONFIDENTIAL 1044 PAGE 01 TOKYO 13512 0904002 22 ACTION SS-25 INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SSO-00 NSCE-00 /026 W EXCES 035170 n 9903352 SEP 76 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TU SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2133 f. A N F I 0 E N I TOKYO 13512 EXOIS E.O. 11652: GDS TAGS: PFOR, JA, US, SREF SUBJECT: MIG DEFECTOR TRAVEL PLANS REF: TOKYO 13490 1. BELENKO WILL DEPART TOKYO HANEDA AIRPORT ON NORTHWEST 22 AT 1845. WILL ARRIVE LOS ANGELES 1710 SEPTEMBER 9. 2. SCENARIO FOR FINAL HOUR OF BELENKO STAY IN JAPAN HAS BEEN WORKED OUT WITH GOJ AS FOLLOWS: 1620 MEETING WITH US REPRESENTATIVES AT SUIJO POLICE STATION. 1645 MEETING WITH MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS FOR FINAL IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES. 1755 MEETING WITH SOVIET REPRESENTATIVES. 1810 DEPART POLICE STATION FOR AIRPORT 1835 ARRIVE HANEDA AIRPORT 1845 DEPART JAPAN 3. FOREIGN OFFICE REPORTS THAT DEFECTOR'S RESOLVE REMAINS FIRM. HE HAS AGREED TO MEET WITH SOVIET REPRESENTATIVES BUT SAID HE WOULD MEET THEM FOR FORD "ONE MINUTE ONLY." HE IS PREPARED FOR POSSIBILITY & THAT SOVIETS MAY TRY TO HAND HIM LETTER FROM HIS WIFE. GERALD LIBRARY 1. DOCUMENTATION FOR TRAVEL TO UNITED STATES IS CONFIDENTIAL NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY GG 8/30/01 FORM 1652 or Department of State AMERICA UNITED TELEGRAM STATES of CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 TOKYO 13512 0904002 COMPLETE. 5. EMBASSY WOULD APPRECIATE SOONEST GUIDANCE ON WHAT WE CAN SAY TO PRESS AFTER BELENKO HAS DEPARTED JAPAN. SHOESMITH FORD GERALD ? LIBRARY NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITH IDENTI AMORIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FORM 10 487 2 COPY OP IMMED TKI480 DE RUEHKO #3577 2531000 0 0909257 SEP 76 FM AMENBASSY TOKYO TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2155 INFO COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA JA IMMEDIATE 5TH AF YOKOTA JA IMMEDIATE CINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE AMENBASSY HOSCOW IMMEDIATE 3618 USMISSION NATO IMMEDIATE 315 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE TOKYO 13577 E.O. 11652: N/A TAGS: MARR, JA SUBJECT: FURTHER REACTION TO MIG=25 INCIDENT SUMMARY: JAPANESE MEDIA CONTINUES TO HEADLINE MIG-25 INCIDENT WITH SOVIETS COMING IN FOR CRITICISM FOR HEAVYHANDEDNESS, WHILE GOJ OFFICIALS ARE WARY OF PREDICTING HOW THE MATTER WILL BE SETTLED. END SUMMARY. 1. WHILE GOJ OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO REACT WITH DELICACY TO COMPLEX OF DIPLOMATIC PROBLEMS CREATED BY MIG-25 INCIDENT TOUGHER POSTURE TOWARDS SOVIETS NOTED BY MEDIA. HIGH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS ARE HEADLINED IN SEPTEMBER 9 PAPERS CRITI- CIZING THE USSR FOR NOT HAVING EXPRESSED ITS REGRET AT HAVING VIOLATED JAPAN'S TTERRITORY AND FOR "LACK OF PROTOCOL" IN MAKING DEMANDS WITHOUT EXPRESSING ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. A HIGH FOREIGN OFFICE OFFICIAL COMPARED THIS TO "BREAKING INTO THE YARD OF A NEIGHBOR AND SAYING NO WORD OF REGRET" AND SAID IT WAS NOT BEFITTING A "GENTLEMANLY COUNTRY". FOREIGN MINISTER MIYAZAWA TOLD THE PRESS ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 9 THAT HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY PRIME MINISTER MIKI TO HANDLE THE AFFAIR "VERY CAREFULLY so AS NOT TO LEAVE ANY DISPUTES IN THE FUTURE". 2, MOST PAPERS SEE THE DEFECTOR LEAVING FOR THE US ON SEPTEMBER 9, AND ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO THE DISPOSITION OF THE MIG-25. ONE FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL IS QUOTED AS SAYING THIS INCIDENT IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR JAPAN, BUT EUROPEAN PRECEDENTS *WHSR COMMENT SCOWCROFT, HYLAND, RECALLED PSN1043575 PAGE 81 TOR:253/10:292 0TG:098925Z SEP 76 0 A COPY FORD DECLASSIFIED GERALD ? LIBRARY E.O. 12956, SEC. 3.5 STATE DEPT, GUIDELINES BY 66 , NARA, DATE 8/30/01 n COPY ESTABLISH A KIND OF "INTERNATIONAL MARKET PRICE" FOR HANDLING THE PLANE WHICH INVOLVES A QUITE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WITHIN THE SCOPE NECESSARY FOR THE PURSUIT AND CLARIFICATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INCIDENT OF TERRITORIAL VIOLATION." THE ASAMI SUMMARIZES THAT "THE FOREIGN MINISTRY THINKS JAPAN CAN DETAIN THE PLANE AS MATERIAL EVIDENCE IN À CRIMINAL OFFENSE EVEN AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF BELENKO AND THERE IS NO NEED TO DELAY HIS DEPARTURE. THE GOJ INTENDS TO RETURN THE PLANE EVENTUALLY, BUT A FINAL DECISION ON ITS HANDLING SHOULD BE MADE ONLY AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SOVIETS REACH AN AGREEMENT." ALSO ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS FOREIGN MINISTRY SOURCES DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE PLANE'S "RIGHT OF INVIOLABILITY" AS CALIMED BY THE SOVIET SIDE, 3. THE JOA HAS BEGUN INTERGOVERNMENTAL TALKS TO CONDUCT A SEPARATE INSPECTION OF THE PLANE. UP TO NOW THE JOA IS SAID TO BE COOPERATING IN THE POLICE AND PROCURATOR'S INVESTIGATION WITH ITS OWN PERSONNEL, JDA DIRGEN SAKATA REPORTEDLY TOLD THE LDP SECURITY RESEARCH COUNCIL THAT JDA INVESTIGATION OF THE PLANE "TS A MATTER OF COURSE". FOREIGN MINISTRY SOURCES SAQGVUMTHE INVESTIGATION WILL PROBABLY NOT TAKE AS LONG AS TWO TO THREE SXAW THS. THERE IS A LINE OF COMMON SENSE", A JDA SOURCE OFFICIAL OPINED THAT ABOUT ONE MONTH WILL BE REQUIRED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF COMMON SENSE, ACCORDING TO THE YOHIURI. 4, SOVIET REACTION IS BEING WATCHED CAREFULLY. FONOFF OFFICIALS REVEALED THAT MOSCOW AMBASSADOR SHIGEMITSU WAS PRESENTED THE SAME DEMANDS MADE EARLIER IN TOKYO. AMBASSADOR POLANSKY IS SCHEDULED TO MEET VICE FOREIGN MINISTER ARITA THIS AFTERNOON (SEPTEMBER 9) IN WHAT THE PRESS EXPECTS WILL BE PRESENTATION OF THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE SOVIET GOVERNMENT DEMARCHE TO DATE. THIS, IS THE FIRST TIME THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR HAS BECOME INVOLVED. 5, THERE IS LITTLE COMMENTARY ON IMPLICATIONS FOR US-JAPAN RELATIONS. ONE FOREIGN OFFICE SOURCE IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE US TO DIRECTLY SEEK THE INVESTIGATION OF THE MIG-25, AND THAT THE us HAS ATTACHED NO CONDITION TO BELENKO'S ASYLUM OTHER THAN CONFIRMATION OF HIS INTENTIONS. SMOESMITH BT RECALLED PSN1843575 PAGE 02 OF 02 TOR:253/19:297 DTG18909257 SEP 76 FORD COPY & o GERALD LIBRARY 11a MEMORANDUM NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL Outside System SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS ACTION September 9, 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR BRENT SCOWCROFT ank FROM: Mr. Clift NSF OBE, SUBJECT: Brezhnev Message on MIG-25 Pilot Action completed The message from Brezhnev to the President delivered by Voronstov on September 8 requires a businesslike reply from the President setting the record straight with regard to the MIG-25 pilot's request for asylum and advising that the President will look forward to meeting with Gromyko later this month. I recommend that you sign the memorandum to Larry Eagleburger for Hal Sonnenfeldt at Tab A requesting State to prepare a proposed reply for consideration by the President. RECOMMENDATION That you sign the memorandum at Tab A, to be handcarried on this morning's 10:00 a. m. courier run to State. (in envirops To Ed Roberts Pa file SD 11/8/96 DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5 SECRET/NODIS/XGDS NRC MEMO, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES or Gh , NARA, DATE 8/30/01 GERALD R LIBRARY FORD LIBRARY & OERALD For THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS September 9, 1976 MEMORANDUM TO: LARRY EAGLEBURGER FOR: HAL SONNENFELDT SUBJECT: Message From Brezhnev on MIG-25 Pilot Last evening Voronstov delivered the attached message to the President from General Secretary Brezhnev expressing his bitter- ness over the U.S. role in the defection of the Soviet MIG-25 pilot, stating that this is an issue Gromyko will follow up on when in Washington this month, and advising that attempts by the United States to get access to the aircraft cannot but leave their mark on US-USSR relations. Would you please prepare a proposed draft reply from the President to Brezhnev setting the record straight and advising that the President is looking forward to meeting with Gromyko when the Foreign Minister comes to Washington. May we please have the draft by noon, Friday, September 10. Brent Scowcroft Attachment FORD DECLASSIFIED GERALO E.O. 12956, SEC. 3.5 SECRET/NODIS/XGDS BY NBC GG MEMO, 11/24/08, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES , MARA, DATE 8/30/01 Varonation, 7:30 11c 9/8/76 Dear Mr. President, I have just learned of the statement of the White House that you have offered asylum to the Soviet pilot who is now in Japan. I must express my extreme surprise with regard to this step on your part. So what is going on now? The matter concerns the serviceman of the Soviet Union who by a concurrence of circumstances. was forced to land on the territory of Japan. And the US Government is eager immediately to lay a hand on this pilot and the Soviet aircraft. Even if what happened to the pilot were as some people try to present it, in that case too the step you have taken cannot be justified in any way. In fact you have urged the Soviet serviceman, opening the doors wide before him, to seek asylum in the United States in violation of his military oath of allegiance. We are convinced that the situation is different at all and that we have here the use of violence and unlawful methods with respect to the Soviet pilot. Otherwise, why should the meeting of Soviet representatives with the pilot be denied? FORD a GERALD LIBRARY 2. In this connection I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Japanese television showed how the Soviet pilot was taken from Hakodate airport to Tokyo. This program was watch a by millions of people. A sack was put on the man's head, he was dragged into a car by rude physical force. Can. you really approve of all that? I will tell you frankly, Mr. President, the position, expressed in the said statement of the White House does not conform at all to the assurances given by you on more than one occasion as to your desire to continue the course for better relations between our countries. Moreover, and I want to be frank on this point too, we feel also concerned about many other things that are being said and done in the United States in the course of recent months. I have already drawn your attention to a number of points in this connection. These points as well as other questions of Soviet-US relations will, of course, be the subject of conversation when A.A. Gromyko visits Washington on your invitation later this month. As of now I would like to refer to only one above-mentioned fact and to your position in this connection. And I must say, I speak of it with the feeling of bitterness. I would repeat in conslusion: any actions on the part of the United States with regard to the Soviet pilot, as mentioned in the statement of the White House, as well as the attempts of FORD A GERALD LIBRARY 3. the US authorities to get access to the aircraft cannot but leave their mark on our relations. L.I. BRESHNEV September 8, 1976 GERALD R. FORD \ 12a DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE Bad @Dice Brent: I thought you and Bill H. might be interested in the attached memo on the Defector. GB 9-12 any OF R. FORD LIBRARY \ 12b NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013711 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Memorandum RECEIVER'S NAME National Foreign Intelligence Board Principals TITLE Procedures for Handling of Information Derived from Defector CREATION DATE 09/10/1976 VOLUME 1 page COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Exempt 4/12/05 120 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013712 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Memorandum CREATOR'S NAME George Bush CREATOR'S TITLE Chairman, National Foreign Intelligence Board RECEIVER'S NAME National Foreign Intelligence Board Principals DESCRIPTION Re procedures for handling of information derived from defector CREATION DATE 09/10/1976 VOLUME 3 pages COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Eyempt 4/12/05 5/31/11 PHOTOCOPY FROM GERALD FORD LIBRARY \ 12a DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE Bad @sice CLUS Brent: I thought you and Bill H. might be interested in the attached memo on the Defector. GB 9-12 any GERALD R. FORD LERRARY I 12b PHOTOCOPY FROM GERALD FORD LIBRARY NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013711 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Memorandum RECEIVER'S NAME National Foreign Intelligence Board Principals TITLE Procedures for Handling of Information Derived from Defector CREATION DATE 09/10/1976 VOLUME 1 page COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Exempt 4/12/05 120 PHOTOCOPY FROM GERALD FORD LIBRARY NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013712 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Memorandum CREATOR'S NAME George Bush CREATOR'S TITLE Chairman, National Foreign Intelligence Board RECEIVER'S NAME National Foreign Intelligence Board Principals DESCRIPTION Re procedures for handling of information derived from defector CREATION DATE 09/10/1976 VOLUME 3 pages COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Exempt 4/12/05 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013713 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL .... National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Intelligence Report DESCRIPTION Re MIG-25 CREATION DATE 09/14/1976 VOLUME 1 page COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG EXEMPTED 5/31/11 14 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 013714 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Intelligence Report DESCRIPTION Re further reaction to MIG-25 pilot defection CREATION DATE 09/14/1976 VOLUME 1 page COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 032400268 COLLECTION TITLE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY FILES FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BOX NUMBER 7 FOLDER TITLE Japan - MIG-25 Incident (1) DATE WITHDRAWN 09/04/2001 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST GG Senitized 4/12/05 Approved For Release 2005/04/12 : NLF-CODEWORD-30-2-2-4 SECRET WORKING PAPER 14 :1 :1 14 Sep 76 In diplomatic circles, the first instance of Soviet/ Warsaw Pact representatives discussing the defection occurred at a Bulgarian sponsored reception in Sofia. The Soviet Attache approached his US counterpat on several occasions and insisted on private discussions concerning the status of the defector. However, it appears his enthusiasm for extracting information exceeded his capacity for alcohol. He pursued the subject while initiating repeated toasts and consuming several "final" drinks. To the embarrassment of other Soviet dignitaries present, he departed the reception :1 with a promise of further talks at upcoming social events. DECLASSIFIED w/portions exempted NSC/State Guidelines AUTHORITY RAC NLF- CODEWORD- 30-2-2-4 4/12/2005 BY MLD. NARA, DATE 6/20/2011 DIA review(s) completed Presidential Library Review of DOS Equities is Required :1 Approved For Release 2005/04/12 : NLF-CODEWORD-30-2-2-4 15 129 SECRET COPY DP IMMED DE RUEKJCS #9331 2580456 0 140456Z SEP 76 FM JCS INFO C X A WHITE HOUSE WASH DC CNO WASH DC 0 P 1403552 SEP 76 FM USDAO TOKYO JAPAN TO DIA WASH DC INFO FTD WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH COMNAVINTCOM WASH DC 7602 AIRINTELGP FORT BELVOIR VA DA WASH DC FTD DET 3 LINDSEY AS GERMANY CINCPAC HONOLULU HI CINCRACAF HICKAM AB HI FTD DET 4 YOKOTA AB JA TAC LANGLEY AFB VA CINCSAC OFFUTT AFB NE AFEWC KELLY AFB TX FSTC CHARLOTTESVILLE VA CSAF WASH DC AFSC ANDREWS AFB MD MAC SCOTT AFB IL NISC WASH DC DIRNSA FORT GEORGE G MEADE MD NAVWPNSCEN CHINA LAKE CA DET 1 7602 AIRINTELGP YOKOTA AB JA 6921 SCTYW MISAWA AB JA CORUSAMICOM REDSTONE ARSENAL AL CDR US ARMY INTEL AGENCY FORT MEADE MD USDAO MOSCOW USSR USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GERMANY CINCUSAFE LINDSEY AS GERMANY CIA WASH DC SECSTATE WASHOC COMUSJARAN YOKOTA AB JA SECDEF WASH DC 5 AF YOKOTA AB JA & C R T NOFORN 0461 SEP 76, RECALLED PSN#048393 PAGE 01 TOR:258/04:59Z 07G#140355Z SEP 76 FORD SECRET COPY & GG 8/30/01 GERALD Libinny SECRET COPY COMNAVINTCOM FOR NIC-03, 7682 FOR INUA, AND INOA, DA FOR DAMI-DOM, FTD DET 3 FOR DA, CINCRAC FOR J233, PACAF FOR DOIT, FTD FOR XRQH AND FAM, TAC FOR INOA, CINCSAC FOR INY, AFENC FOR SURP, FST CH FOR DRXST-FA1, MICOM FOR DRSMI-YDL AND DRSMI-YOR, CSAF FOR INY, AFSC FOR INJ, 5 AF FOR INX, MAC FOR IN, DIRNSA FOR C-54 AND CSS, 6921 FOR COL CARNAHAN, USAINTA FOR MIIA-INC, OM, USCINCEIR FOR ECJ2-R, USAFE FOR INCFR, CIA FOR DOC/INT/RQ AND IDC, STATE FOR INR/OIL, COMUSJAPAN FOR J-2, THIS IS REPORT NUMBER 15. SUBJ: STABLEMATE CUI. 1. (S/NOFORN) AIRA ET WITH JASDF CHIEF OF STAFF, GEN TSUMODA, VICE CHIEF OF STAFF LT GEN HIRANO AND DCS/DEFENSE, MGEN NAMATAME, LATE AFTERNOON 13 SEP 76 TO EXPLAIN THE REDISIGNATION OF COMUSJ AS OVERALL COORDINATING AUTHORITY FOR MIG=25 EXPLOITATION. POINTED OUT THAT DAD RELATIONS WITH JDA AND JASDF WOULD REMAIN SAME. ALL UNDERSTOOD, GEN HIRANO ASKED WHAT US SIDE'S OPINION OF BEST WAY TO EXPLOIT. AIRA EMPHASIZED THAT BEST WAY WOULD BE TO LET APPROX 14 US SPECIALISTS WORK WITH INTACT ACFT, 24 HRS A DAY FOR APPROX SEVEN DAYS. HIRANO ASKED WHETHER WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE. AIRA EXPLAINED IMPORTANCE OF OPERATION AND ANALYSIS OF SYSTEMS IN THEIR TOTALLTY AND IN THEIR NORMAL ACFT ENVORONMENT IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN THEIR TRUE OPERATING CHARACTER- ISTICS. GEN TSUMODA EXPRESSED HIS UNDERSTANDING OF OUR DESIRES BUT CITED PROBLEM OF GETTING JDA INTERNAL BUREAU OFFICIALS APPROVAL. 2. (S/NOFORN) MORNING OF 14 SEP 76 JASDF OFFICIALS GAVE AIRA 380 COLOR AND 1485 BLACK AND WHITE PRINTS OF MIG-25. MSG IR BEING PREPARED BY DAO. PRINTS WILL BE TURNED OVER TO DET 4 FTD FOR DUPLICATION AND USE, 3. (S/NOFORN) IN BRIEFING WITH DEF MIN SAKATA 13 SEP, MGEN MITSUII HAS ASKED ABOUT BEST WAY FOR ACFT TO BE TAKEN OUT OF HAKODATE. HE REPLIED BY USAF 0-5, SAKATA INDICATED TO HIM THAT THIS SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD IDEA, GDS - 31 DEC 1984. BT RECALLED PSN#048393 PAGE 02 OF 02 TOR:258/04:59Z DTG#140355Z SEP 76 FORD E R COPY & 0 BERALD LIBRARY 16 KS04U 17802) 1ZYRCZCUIV scow,HY,MCF,U URGENT PILOT MOSCOW, SEP 14, REUTER - THE SOVIET UNION TONIGHT IMPLICITLY CHARGED THAT JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES HAD CONNIVED AT COMPELLING A RUSSIAN AIR FORCE PILOT WHO LANDED A TOP-SECRET JET IN JAPAN LAST WEEK TO SEEK ASYLUM IN THE WEST. THE OFICIAL TASS NEWS AGENCY, IN THE FIRST SOVIET COMMENT ON THE AFFAIR, SAID FIRST LIEUTENANT VIKTOR BELENKO HAD BEEN ON A ROUTINE TRAINING FLIGHT WHEN HE LOST HIS BEARINGS, RAN OUT OF FUEL, AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN JAPAN. MORE 1349 10. K3 06R 17811)2ZYRCZCCYN PILOT 2 MOSCOW BELENKO IS NOW IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE HE WAS GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM ON THE INSTRUCTIONS OF PRESIDENT FORD. INSTEAD OF CONTACTING SOVIET DIPLOMATS, THE AGENCY SAID, HE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES ""PUT THE SOVIET PILOT INTO STRICT ISOLATION WHICH GIVES GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THAT VARIOUS METHODS WERE USED TO INFLUENCE HIM."" TASS ALSO ACCUSED PRESIDENT FORD OF INCITING THE PILOT TO DEFECT BY ANNOUNCING THROUGH HIS WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN THAT BELENKO WOULD BE GIVEN ASYLUM BEFORE IT WAS KNOWN WHETHER HE HAD ASKED FOR IT. MORE 1352 R307R I7850)LZYRCZCZSA PILOT 3 MOSCOW THE TASS ACCOUNT, WHICH FOLLOWED CLOSELY THE VERSION OF THE AFFAIR WHICH HAS BEEN DISSEMINATED BY THE SOVIET EMBASSY IN TOKYO, SAID THAT WHEN BELENKO WAS ALLOWED TO MEET A RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT HE SAT "LIKE A DUMMY."" THE MEETING, TASS ADDED, ""SHOWED THAT V.I. BELENKO WAS NOT IN A NOR MAL STATE AND WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF NARCOTICS OR SOME or HER DRUG. -- THE ALLEGATIONS CLOSELY PARALLELED SIMILAR CHARGES ISSUED IN MOSCOW AT THE WEEKEND WHEN A SOVIET NEWSPAPER SAID OLYMPIC DIVER SERGEI NEMTSANOV HAD BEEN DRUGGED IN CANADA IN AN APPARENT BID TO MAKE HIM STAY IN THE WEST. REUTER 1354 FORD & GERALD LEBRARY auns N081 & RI GERALD LIBRARY MIG REACTION MOSCOW (AP) -- THE SOVIET UNION ACCUSED JAPAN TODAY OF ''IGNORING TH ELEMENTARY NORMS OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS'' IN REFUSING TO RETURN A MIC25 JET FIGHTER AND ITS DEFECTING PILOT. IN THE FIRST PUBLIC SOVIET COMMENT SINCE THE JET LANDED IN JAPAN SEPT.6 AND THE PILOT WAS GIVEN ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES, THE TASS NEWS AGENCY SAID THAT JAPANESE COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE MATTER HAS HARMED SOVIET-JAPANESE RELATIONS. TASS SAID THE AIRPLANE, WHICH IT DID NOT IDENTIFY AS THE MIG25, ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED IN THE WORLD, HAD LANDED IN JAPAN BECAUSE IT LOST ITS BEARINGS AND RAN OUT OF FUEL. IT SAID JAPANESE AUTHORITIES HELD THE PILOT, LT. VIKTOR IVANOVICH BELENKO, AGAINST HIS WILL, AND THAT HE WAS SENT TO THE UNITED STATES AGAINST HIS WILL. IT DENIED HE HAD SOUGHT ASYLUM. TASS REFERRED TO A SOVIET STATEMENT TO THE JAPANESE ON SEPT. 0 ''IN WHICH THE ACTS OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WERE QUALIFIED AS OPENLY UNFRIENDLY TOWARDS THE SOVIET UNION. IT SAID THE JAPANESE DID NOT REPLY. 09-14-76 14:03EDT 1 18 FBIS 72' TASS COMMENTS ON BELENKO'S FLIGHT TO JAPAN LD141645 MOSCOW TASS IN ENGLISH 1635 GMT 14 SEP 76 LD ("WHO NEEDS IT?"--TASS HEADLINE) (TEXT) MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 14, TASS--ALL KINDS OF ISSUES CAN ARISE, SOME TOTALLY UNFORESEEN, IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN STATES, ESPECIALLY NEIGHBOUR STATES. IF THE STATES INVOLVED IN SUCH A ISSUE SET REAL STORE BY THEIR RELATIONS, THEY GO ABOUT SOLVING THE ISSUE IN A CALM MANNER TRYING NOT TO DAMAGE THE INTERESTS OF ANY OF THE SIDES, AN UNFORESEEN CONCATENATION OF EVENTS HAS BROUGHT ABOUT JUST THAT KIND OF ISSUE IN SOVIET- JAPANESE RELATIONS A FEW DAYS AGO. ON SEPTEMBER 6 ROUTINE TRAINING FLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AI A FAR EASTERN SOVIET AIRFIELD. A PLANE PILOTED BY AIRMAN V.I. BELENKO LOST ITS BEARINGS. IT FOUND ITSELF CLOSE TO JAPANESE TERRITORY, AND, WITH NOT ENOUGH FUEL FOR A RETURN FLIGHT, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT THE AIRPORT IN THE JAPANESE TOWN OF HAKODATE. THE FIRST DUTY OF THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES WOULD SEEM TO HAVE BEEN TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SOVIET AIRMAN TO CONTACT SOVIET OFFICES IN JAPAN--THE USSR EMBASSY IN TOKYO AND THE USSR GENERAL CONSULATE IN SAPPORO JUST 150 KILOMETERS AWAY FROM HAKODATE. THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES ACTED OTHERWISE. THEY PUT THE SOVIET AIRMAN IN STRICT ISOLATION WHICH GIVES GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THAT VARIOUS METHODS WERE USED TO INFLUENCE HIM. MILLIONS OF JAPANESE TV VIEWERS SAW THE AIRMAN, WITH SACK PULLED OVER HIS HEAD, BEING MOVED FROM HAKODATE TO TOKYO, DRAGGED BY POLICE, PUSHED BY THEM INTO A CAR AND HAVING HIS HEAD PRESSED AGAINST THE SEAT. DESPITE PERSISTENT APPEALS OF THE SOVIET SIDE, THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO MEET BELENKO FOR ALMOST FOUR DAYS, THUS GROSSLY VIOLATING THE PROVISIONS OF THE SOVIET- JAPANESE CONSULAR CONVENTION, ARTICLES 31-32, WHICH ENVIISAGE THAT A DETAINED CITIZETN OF ANOTHER STATE SHOULD HAVE AN IMMEDIATE MEETING ARRANGED WITH THAT STATE'S REPRESENATIVES. IT IS NOTABLE-THAT THIRD STATES HAVE INTERFERED IN THE AFFAIR WITH THE CONNIVANCE OF JAPANESE AUTHORITIES. ON THE DAY. FOLLOWING THE LANDING OF THE SOVIET PLANE IN JAPAN, AN OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT PRESIDENT FORD HAD DECIDED TO GRANT ASYLUM TO THE SOVIET AIRMAN. THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN HAD TO ADMIT THAT THE AMERICAN AUTHORITIES DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHETHER THE AIRMAN HAD ASKED FOR AN ASYLUM IN THE USA. FORD (MORE) & 14 SEP 1815Z MJL/SAJ GERALD LIBRARY