Office of the Historian

29. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1

Washington, August 30, 1963—6:08 p.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. BUNDY

Sec returned the call and B asked if Sec had fun with Alphand.2 Sec said he claims and he will say to the press this was a long-term view and it is almost what our Pres said in 1961 re Viet-Nam.3 B asked if Sec has seen Lodge’s report on his call on French Ambassador Lalouette.4 Sec said yes. B thinks it is interesting and raised the question of whether Cabot should talk to these people more concretely than he has especially if the other plan is a fallen balloon. B said we can’t settle it tonight but thought he would mention it. We may need this channel. B does not think he has told them very much except we are disturbed. We will reread them. This is one subject that was not [Page 62] discussed this p.m. Sec mentioned Madame Nhu’s coming here. Agreed this is ominous. B said if Cabot told the French Amb they should go that went to the Nhus. Sec will study it this evening and B will too. Meeting tomorrow at 11.

  1. Source: Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Phyllis D. Bernau.↩
  2. See Supra.↩
  3. Apparent reference to Kennedy’s letter to Diem, December 14, 1961; see vol. I, p. 736.↩
  4. See Document 27.↩