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)0
SUBJECT
- Israel’s Atomic Energy Program: Considerations of U.S. Security
Discussion:
You will recall the controversy last fall resulting from the discovery that Israel, aided by France, had been secretly engaged in the construction of a nuclear power reactor at Dimona. You will recall, also, that our concern led us to arrange, through diplomatic channels, for an unpublicized visit to the new reactor by two eminent American scientists. They reported that, for the time being at least, the reactor seemed designed for the peaceful purposes the Israelis claimed for it. [4–1/2 lines of source text not declassified] While placing reliance in the assurances of the Israel Government as to its present peaceful intentions regarding use of the Dimona reactor, we cannot ignore this possibility.
Should Israel contemplate weapons manufacture, one inhibiting factor, [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] would be its lack of weapons designs. Such designs, if available, might be obtained from the French. However, there are indications of some cooling in French-Israel relations. Indicative of this are unevaluated reports that French technicians have been instructed by their government to suspend work on the Dimona reactor. It is conceivable, therefore, that the Israelis might seek to acquire weapons designs from sources in this country.
As a matter of well-considered policy, we remain opposed to acquisition by Israel of a nuclear weapons capability. To this end, and as a follow-up to the secret visit made by our own scientists, we are considering means of arranging an open visit to Dimona by “neutral” scientists. Prime Minister Ben-Gurion assured President Kennedy he agreed to this when the two met in May.1
[3 paragraphs and 1 heading (23 lines of source text) not declassified]
- 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.”↩
- See Document 57.↩