Office of the Historian

170. Letter From Secretary of Defense McNamara to Secretary of State Rusk0

Washington, July 9, 1963.

Dear Dean: The following statements by the President were issued as a part of National Security Action Memorandum No. 242, dated 9 May 1963:

"It is essential that we make every effort to prosecute the program of selling U.S. equipment to allies.”

"Not only will this decrease the net outflow of gold from this country, but it also ties in our military aid to foreign policy.”

"Will you please assure that those concerned are properly informed, including appropriate Members of Congress, those concerned in other departments of government, as well as those in the Department of Defense.”1

I have directed all appropriate elements of the Department of Defense to aggressively pursue the prosecution of such a program.

In keeping with the President’s expressed desire, I suggest that you advise appropriate personnel in your Department of the policy contained in the above quoted remarks. I further suggest that you enjoin those concerned to keep this policy clearly in mind as we seek solutions to the many difficult problems involved in prosecuting such a program.

Sincerely,

Bob
  1. Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM No. 242. Confidential. A copy was sent to McGeorge Bundy. The source text is Tab A to an undated memorandum from U. Alexis Johnson to Secretary Rusk. As summarized in Johnson’s memorandum, McNamara’s letter was an outgrowth of correspondence on military sales between McNamara and Bell. Bell’s June 24 letter to McNamara, McNamara’s June 28 reply, and McNamara’s June 27 memorandum to William Bundy are Tab C. Tab D is printed as Document 171. U. Alexis Johnson transmitted his memorandum to Rusk (with all its tabs) under cover of an undated memorandum to Bell asking for his concurrence.↩
  2. The full text of NSAM No. 242 is Tab B to Johnson’s undated memorandum to Secretary Rusk. The President issued NSAM No. 242 following receipt of a May 7 memorandum from Nitze, which offered reasons for the Australian Government’s purchase of French Mirage airplanes. A copy of Nitze’s memorandum is in the Washington National Records Center, RG 286, AID Administrator Files: FRC 67 A 1530, Military Assistance, FY 1964.↩