301. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, United Arab Republic, UAR/Israel Arms Limitation, 07/11/63–07/31/63. Top Secret; Eyes Only-Cane. Attached to the source text are telegrams 2470 and 2491 from Cairo, Documents 283 and 285, and a draft letter to President Nasser, not printed. On July 22, Talbot forwarded this memorandum to Rusk with a recommendation that the Secretary sign the memorandum to the President. Talbot’s covering memorandum bears the typed note: “approved by McCloy,” and indicates that Eilts drafted the memorandum. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/MCCLOY) Status reports on the McCloy mission from Talbot to Rusk, dated July 11 and 17, are ibid. and ibid., NEA/IAI Files: Lot 72 D 438, Background papers vis-à-vis 2nd McCloy probe w/Nasser 9/64.

302. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 26 YEMEN. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Dinsmore on July 22; cleared by McKesson, Komer, and Davies (in draft); and approved by Talbot.

303. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/MCCLOY. Top Secret; Eyes Only; Cane. Drafted by Eilts on July 24.

304. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Presidential Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 66 D 149. Confidential. Drafted by Talbot and approved in the White House on August 1.

305. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Read) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 UAR-YEMEN. Secret. Komer transmitted this memorandum to President Kennedy on July 31 under cover of the following note: ”Nasser’s attached message to you is welcome confirmation he’s pulling out of Yemen. Some reports indicate 1,500 troops have already left. While this will damp growing criticism of our Yemen policy, I’d guess it may be 12–18 months before bulk of UAR forces are out. Until then we’ll get recurrent flak from Saudis and others about UAR not living up to disengagement. But so long as UAR keeps gradually evacuating (and we should keep pressure on), we ought to be able to live with this. Having UN rather than US forces as the buffer in this exercise, taking the brunt of all the complaints and possible flare-ups, seems well worth the two-month delay involved in dragging in the UN. So I’m not impressed with Badeau’s comment that the US itself should have gone in last April and policed disengagement.” (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, United Arab Republic, 6/63–8/63)

306. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk, in Moscow

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 UAR-YEMEN. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to London, Cairo, Taiz, Jidda, and USUN. Rusk was in Moscow to sign the Limited Test Ban Treaty.

307. Memorandum From the Department of State Acting Executive Secretary (McKesson) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 13–3 IRAQ. Secret. Drafted by Killgore and concurred in by Talbot. A typed note on the source text indicates that Komer approved the recommendation in this memorandum on August 7.

308. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 12 ISR. Top Secret. Sloan (DOD/ISA) forwarded this memorandum to Grant on August 22. His memorandum, summarizing the JCS memorandum, added the comment: “we see no good reason for alteration of our present Middle East arms policy. We say this not only because we are skeptical that it is pinching the Israelis noticeably, but also because it seems plain that we will respond affirmatively to their valid requests for purchase of appropriate defensive weapons when needed to help maintain the arms balance in the area.” (Ibid.)

309. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 8/63. Secret. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “(Taken from Pres. week-end reading dtd 8/9/63).”

310. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL SAUD-UAR. Secret; Operational Immediate. Drafted by Barrow; cleared by Buffum, Symmes, Johnson, and Davis (S/S); and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Beirut, Jidda, London, and USUN and repeated to Taiz and Rome.

311. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 69 A 3131, Iraq, 1963. Secret.

312. Memorandum on the Substance of Discussion at a Department of State-Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting

Source: Department of State, State-JCS Meetings: Lot 70 D 328. Secret. Drafted by Colonel W.B. Robinson (G/PM). A typed note on the source text indicates that the memorandum is a Department of State draft not cleared with the Department of Defense. The meeting was held at the Pentagon.

A Department of State briefing memorandum from Grant to Johnson (G), August 15, is ibid., Central Files, DEF 6–3 US. A Department of Defense talking paper is attached to a memorandum from Strickland to Sloan, August 16, in the Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 69 A 7275, Hard Surface—March thru Aug. 63—Volume I.

313. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 8/63. Secret. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “(Taken from Pres. week-end reading dtd 8/16–18. Tab B-3).”

314. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries, Israel—Security, 1961–1963. Secret.

315. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 YEMEN. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Barrow; cleared by Russell, Symmes, Buffum, Lubkeman, Komer (in substance), and Grant; and approved by Harriman. Repeated to Jidda, London, Taiz, and USUN. A copy of an earlier draft of the telegram shows extensive handwritten changes made by Komer. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 8/63)

316. Letter From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Sloan) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Grant)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 19 US-ISRAEL. Top Secret.

317. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Ball to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Israel, 8/23/63–8/27/63. Secret; Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the source text. A covering memorandum from Komer to President Kennedy, dated August 23, reads as follows: “Here’s the ‘prompt and cordial’ reply to Eshkol’s forthcoming letter on Dimona, which took our State Department five days to cook up. Note from accompanying explanation that Eshkol did not quite meet our proposed schedule, but I agree with State that we ought to act as if he did. Our reply seems to do the job. However, Eshkol also asked Barbour that we not tell Nasser about his agreement (Tel Aviv 204 attached). State wants to go back on your behalf and argue this for reasons stated; I’d suggest a softer approach along lines of penciled in modifications. Since we have delayed a week already, urge we send this off as soon as possible.” Telegram 204 from Tel Aviv, August 19, is in Department of State, Central Files, AE 11–ISR.

318. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 YEMEN. Secret; Operational Immediate; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Russell on August 22; cleared by Symmes, Buffum, McKesson, McGeorge Bundy, Hart, and Grant; and approved by Harriman. Repeated to Cairo, London, and Taiz (via Asmara), and to USUN.

319. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel

Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 294, Pres. Kennedy-Johnson/Israel Correspondence: 1962–65. Secret; Eyes Only; Verbatim Text. Drafted by Crawford on August 23; cleared by Ball, Thomas, President Kennedy, McGeorge Bundy, and Rowe; and approved by Grant.

320. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 32–1 ISR-SYR. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Buffum and Campbell; cleared by Rusk, Komer, Grant, and McKesson; and approved by Gardner. Repeated to Damascus, Tel Aviv, London, and Jerusalem.

321. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Read) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL UAR-US. Secret. The covering memorandum and its enclosure were drafted by Jones and cleared by Davies, Badeau, Williams (AID), and Jernegan.

322. Message From Secretary of State Rusk to Foreign Secretary Home

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 UAR-YEMEN. Secret. Attached to a transmittal note from Rusk to British Ambassador Ormsby Gore. No drafting information appears on the source text.

323. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, United Arab Republic, UAR/Israel Arms Limitation, 08/63–10/63. Top Secret; Eyes Only; Cane. A handwritten note on the source text by Komer reads: “Pres. approved 9/10/63.” The Department of State copy is attached to a September 10 memorandum from Talbot to Rusk, recommending that Rusk sign the memorandum, and indicates Talbot as the drafting officer. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/MCCLOY)

324. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/MCCLOY. Top Secret. Drafted by Dickman on September 11; cleared by the President, Hilliker, and Gathright (ACDA); and approved by Grant.

325. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/MCCLOY. Top Secret. Drafted by Dickman on September 11; cleared by the President, Hilliker, and Gathright (ACDA); and approved by Grant.

326. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of United Nations Political Affairs (Sisco) to the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Cleveland)

Source: Department of State, IO/UNP Files: Lot 72 D 294, PCC—Johnson Mission. Confidential. Drafted by Campbell on September 18.

327. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Read) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 12 ISR. Secret With Top Secret Attachment. Komer sent this memorandum and its attachments to President Kennedy under cover of a September 26 memorandum. Komer’s memorandum noted that Israel appeared willing to accept alternate approaches to enhance its security, other than a security guarantee, described the position of the Departments of State and Defense as too cautious, and indicated he had changed the final sentence in the proposed letter to Eshkol. The memorandum is in the Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Israel, 9/1/63–9/30/63; for text, see the Supplement, compilation on Israel.

328. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, AID (US) UAR. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Dickman on September 19; cleared by Williams (AID), Ely, and Davies; and approved by Talbot.

329. Paper by Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 09/63. Secret. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “(Taken from Pres. week-end reading dtd 9/26/63).” A covering memorandum from Komer to Bundy reads: “Here’s a Yemen paper which I’ve done to sort out my own thoughts, advise JFK and you, and jog State. Latter’s instincts are good, but it simply isn’t pressing hard enough to minimize risk that this minor league exercise in preventive diplomacy will come apart at the seams. So I’d hope you could endorse this on to JFK for weekend or evening reading, with request he approve recommendations. We could then convey these informally to State as JFK-endorsed doctrine, giving us the needle we need.” A memorandum from Komer to Bundy, October 10, indicates that Kennedy approved this memorandum. (Ibid.)

330. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts

Source: Department of State, Central Files, REF 3 UNRWA. Confidential. Drafted by Campbell; cleared by Crawford in draft, Jernegan, and Buffum; and approved by Cleveland. Sent to USUN, Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, and Jerusalem and repeated to Ankara, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv.