Near East, 1961–1962
121. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Battle) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.88/10–461. Top Secret. Drafted by Marcy (NEA/GTI) and cleared by Colonel Price (JCS), Colonel Tucker (DOD/ISA), Talbot, and G/PM. This memorandum was written in response to a September 13 White House request; see Document 108. On October 5, Komer sent it to Bundy under cover of Document 122.
122. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, Iran, 9/10/61–10/13/61. Top Secret.
123. National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files. [classification marking not declassified] According to a note on the cover sheet: “The following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of this estimate: The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, The Joint Staff, and the AEC.” All members of the U.S. Intelligence Board concurred in the estimate except the Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, who abstained because the subject was outside his jurisdiction.
124. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786B.00/10–761. No classification marking. Drafted by Strong on October 5 and transmitted to Rusk under cover of a memorandum from Meyer on October 6. (Ibid., NEA/NE Files: Lot 63 D 33, Syrian Crisis)
125. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant and Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy and Rostow)
[Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer, Vol. II. Top Secret. Portions of this 2-page document on U.S. policy toward Syria were released too late to be included in this volume. The declassified text will be included in the Supplement, the compilation on Syria.]
126. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/10–661. Confidential. Drafted by Meyer and Sisco (IO/UNP), cleared by Strong and Talbot, and approved by Cleveland who initialed for Ball.
127. Report by the Chairman of the Iran Task Force (Talbot)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.88/10–1461. Secret. Drafted by Bowling and Marcy on October 14. Attached to a transmittal memorandum to President Kennedy that bears Secretary Rusk’s signature. Neither of these documents was forwarded to the White House. An earlier draft of the report, dated October 9, and comments on the draft by Talbot are in Department of State,NEA/GTI Files: Lot 66 D 173, Task Force on Iran. Rusk’s October 16 transmittal memorandum to President Kennedy indicates that Rusk had discussed the substance of the report with Talbot and had approved the courses of action proposed. Rusk also recommended that the Task Force had served its purpose and “might now be adjourned sine die, subject to being reconvened in the event that some future development made such a source desirable.” A memorandum from Meyer to Rusk, October 21, indicates that after Secretary Rusk had signed the transmittal memorandum, it was decided to delay sending the report, because of news that Ambassador Holmes was sending an important report in the pouch (see Document 129). (Department of State,NSAM Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 67)
128. National Security Action Memorandum No. 105
Source: Department of State, NSAM Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 105. Secret. Copies were sent to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Director of Central Intelligence. NSAM No. 105 was distributed in the Department of State on October 18. Action on the request was assigned to the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs.
130. Memorandum From the Assistant Director of the Bureau of the Budget (Hansen) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.88/10–1861. Secret.
132. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Meyer) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 884A.1901/10–1961. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford and sent through Farley (S/AE). A handwritten notation at the end of the source text by Johnson’s Special Assistant Francis E. Meloy reads: “Approved by Mr. Johnson 25 October 1961. Mr. Johnson has spoken to Mr. Ink of the Atomic Energy Commission and Mr. Furnas, S/AE, will furnish him with a copy of this memo. A further copy of the memo has been sent by me to INR, Mr. Hilsman, with request he take necessary action through the USIB or otherwise.”
133. Informal Summary Record of the Iran Task Force Meeting
Source: Department of State, NEA/GTI Files: Lot 65 D 398, 1961 Task Force. Secret. Drafted by Bowling on October 31.
134. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.88/10–3061. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution.
135. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iran
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.88/10–3061. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Bowling, cleared by Bergeson (BNA) in substance, and approved by Meyer who initialed for Bowles. Repeated to London.
136. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–161. Confidential. Repeated to USUN.
137. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to the Director of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs (Strong)
Source: Department of State, NEA/NE Files: Lot 63 D 33, Damascus. Confidential.
138. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.88/11–561. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to London.
139. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–1461. Confidential. Drafted by Hamilton on November 16. The source text is labeled “Part II of IV.” Three other memoranda of conversation cover the discussion on the Jerusalem question (ibid., 784A.00/11–1461); the Israeli nuclear reactor (ibid., 884A.1901/11–1461); and the location of U.S.-Israeli P.L. 480 negotiations (ibid., 411.84A41/11–1461). A briefing memorandum, prepared by the Office of Near Eastern Affairs, for Talbot’s use during the meeting is ibid., 784A.00/11–1461.
141. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Battle) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Department of State, NSAM Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 105. Secret. Drafted by Strong and Barrow (NEA/NE) on November 2 and concurred in by Meyer (NEA), Gold (E) in draft, McCoy (AID) in draft, Meloy (G), and Costanza (Treasury) for economic portions.
142. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman) to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office File, Staff Memoranda, Feldman, Myer. No classification marking.
143. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State,NEA/NE Files: Lot 63 D 33, Chron. Memo to Secretary or Under Secretary. Secret. Drafted by Strong on November 21.
144. Memorandum of Conversation Between the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow) and the United Arab Republic Ambassador (Kamel)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, United Arab Republic, 11/61–12/61. Official Use Only. Drafted by Rostow on November 22. A copy in Department of State, NEA/NE Files: Lot 64 D 40, Egypt I.B. General, bears handwritten marginal notations presumably made in the Office of Near Eastern Affairs.
145. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 886.411/11–2661. Confidential. Drafted by Crawford and Palmer on November 24 and cleared by Talbot, Cleveland, Strong, and Sisco.
146. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–3061. Confidential. Drafted by Palmer (IO/UNP) on December 14 and approved in S on December 24. A November 27 memorandum from Meyer to Rusk indicates that Meir requested this meeting with Rusk to discuss the forthcoming U.N. debate on UNRWA. (Ibid., 033.84A11/11–2761) A November 30 briefing memorandum from Cleveland and Talbot for Rusk is ibid., 325.84/11–3061. An additional briefing memorandum from Cleveland to Rusk of November 30 provided a proposed rejoinder for possible Israeli complaints about U.S. support for the inclusion of the United Arab Republic in the list of participants in the 20-Nation Disarmament Forum. (Ibid., 033.84A11/11–3061)
147. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 811.0086B/12–161. Secret. Drafted by Barrow on December 4.
148. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 811.0086B/12–661. Confidential. Drafted by Duncan (NEA/NE); cleared by Ioanes (FAS) in draft, Gabbert (E/CSD) in draft, Gulick (AA/NESA) in substance, Drake (AA/NE) in draft, Bittermann (ARD) in draft; O’Leary (FAS) in draft, and Strong (NEA/NE); and approved by Talbot who initialed for Rusk.
149. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, United Arab Republic, 11/61–12/61. Secret.
150. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to the Under Secretary of State (Ball)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.00/12–1861. Secret. Drafted by Strong on December 15 and concurred in by Glidden (INR). Copies were sent to McGhee (M), Rostow (S/P), and Hilsman (INR). Sent to Bundy at the National Security Council on February 15, 1962, under cover of a memorandum from Battle that reads: “In response to Mr. Komer’s oral request, I enclose a copy of a memorandum entitled ‘Situation Developing in Iraq’ sent by the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs to the Under Secretary of State on December 18, 1961. The situation described therein is essentially unchanged and our views remain the same.” (Ibid., 787.00/2–1562)