Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVII, Near East, 1961–1962

231. Memorandum for the Record⁰

Washington, April 2, 1962.

First Meeting with President on Shah’s Visit, 30 March 1962¹

PRESENT

• The President, Secretary Rusk, Mr. McGhee, Mr. Rostow, Mr. Talbot, Secretary McNamara, General LeMay, W. P. Bundy, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Gaud, Mr. Bundy, Ambassador Bowles, Mr. Komer

It was agreed that an effort would be made to arrange a joint session of Congress to hear the Shah, even if Congressional attendance proved sparse. The Shah seemed insistent, particularly since Ayub had appeared before Congress, Secretary Rusk would call Senator Mansfield. The President would tell the Shah to discuss MAP with McNamara.

The President agreed that Secretary McNamara should give the Shah the highlights of our proposed MAP package. This was better than the President having to argue the case. It was agreed that the President would talk in general terms about our desire to modernize the Iranian forces. Secretary McNamara pointed out that we can accelerate MAP deliveries; this, plus the $330 million package should increase the apparent flow by 50–100% which would look very good to the Iranians.

The President desired a memo on things we were doing or planned to do for Iran that had not been done before, particularly MAP items.

Secretary McNamara suggested that the President tell the Shah we would send a small military planning mission (to be part of the MAAG) to assist the Iranians in planning more effectively for their own defense. Secretary McNamara suggested that he could avoid describing one or two key MAP items during his discussion with the Shah, e.g., the C–130s; then the President could tell the Shah about these at the second meeting as an additional concession.

The President desired that we take a look at the sufficiencies of our commitments to Iran to come to its defense in event of attack. Secretary Rusk hoped that we could go so far as to say we would send in one or two divisions in event of limited attack. It was agreed that this should be explored.

RWK²

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, Iran, Subjects: Shah Visit. Secret. Drafted by Komer.
1. Komer outlined his proposed agenda for this meeting in a March 28 memorandum to Bundy. (Ibid., Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer)
2. Printed from a copy that bears these typed initials.