Office of the Historian

244. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the President’s Military Representative (Taylor)1

Washington, November 13, 1961, 15:37 p.m.

The Sec returned the call and T asked if Johnson had mentioned the proposal to have an NSC meeting Wednesday.2 The Sec answered in the affirmative and asked is it for making decisions or to ratify a refurbished paper. T said it was two-fold-some advisers were not at the Sat mtg3 particularly Treas and there was question as to whether it should not warrant this mtg and the Sec would have the papers ready to go. The Sec asked how T and J are coming on the papers and T said he and Rostow would see J here at 4:30. The Sec asked how far-reaching and T said not much on the cable but literary comments on the letter.4 The Sec said he was reluctant to see us delay very much but probably they can’t go out until tomorrow. T does not want delay either. The Sec suggested sending them over to Dillon to have him look at them. T said McG. Bundy was preparing a memo for the record5 and running into difficulty with language and the paper should be checked carefully. His feeling is the Pres does not know what he is approving. Some things are unthought out recommendations and we should tell him this means so and so. The Sec said o.k.—let’s do it. He has already told the Br and Fr.6 NSC will be Wed at 10.

  1. Source: Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Calls. Transcribed by Phyllis D. Bernau of the Office of the Secretary.↩
  2. November 15.↩
  3. See Document 236.↩
  4. Reference is to instructions to Ambassador Nolting and a letter from President Kennedy to President Diem; see Document 257 and footnote 2 thereto.↩
  5. See Document 247.↩
  6. See Document 241 and Document 243.↩