Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, American Republics; Cuba 1961–1962; Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Volumes X/XI/XII, Microfiche Supplement

474. Memorandum of meeting of NSC Executive Committee, October 31¹

October 31, 1962, 10 a.m.

McCone distributed CIA memorandum 10/31 and summarized the content as per the attached summary. DCI stated that he felt the conclusion, final sentence paragraph one, page one was overly positive as evidence that some of the launchers had been moved from the MRBM sites could be construed as a first step at dismantling. Furthermore, DCI pointed out that photographs were compared with those taken on Saturday and orders to cease and desist were probably not issued until Sunday night or Monday morning. Nevertheless, there are evidences of construction work since men were noted actually engaged on buildings, etc., on several sites. The question was raised of the Hanson Baldwin article of the intelligence gap. McCone reported that discussions in New York in which two questions were raised, (a) would Cuba be left a sanctuary for Castro and (b) was there an intelligence gap or was information withheld. McCone then expressed concern over the Cuban SNIE of Sept. 19th stating that portion of the estimate dealt with the probability of Soviets placing MRBM’s in Cuba as covered in paragraph d of the conclusions trouble him as the United States Intelligence Board and the BNE in reaching this conclusion have not in DCI’s opinion fully appraised the refugee, emigre and agent reports indicating the presence of weapons other than SAM’s and this information has very largely been overlooked. The President asked Bundy for the SNIE.

McCone then reported on the Columbia crisis, Soviet action in summoning Bloc leaders to Moscow, a schedule of Mikoyan’s trip to Havana, and the fact that Soviets conducted an additional nuclear test of about 500 KT’s on October the 30th at Novaya Zemla.

The meeting then turned to other matters and first reviewed the guidelines for the negotiations in New York as prepared by State. These were approved with modest modifications.

Balance of the meeting; is covered in the penciled notes.

It was decided to resume at 6:00 p.m. to study the results of the U. Thant/Castro talks of this day.

John A. McCone

1. Report of photographic evidence of movement of missiles in Cuba; discussion in New York. Top Secret. 1 p. CIA, DCI (McCone) Files: Job 80–B01258A, DCI Meetings with the President, 1 July–31 December 1962.