Near East, 1962–1963
31. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8-2462. Secret; Priority. Relayed to the White House.
32. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/8-2762. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford; cleared by Talbot, Cleveland, and Slater; and approved by Rusk. Also sent to Paris, Ankara, London, Amman, Damascus, Beirut, Cairo, and Tel Aviv.
33. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 683.84A/8-3062. Secret. Drafted by Blackiston on August 29 and cleared by Grant. The source text lists two enclosures: 1) “Study of Capacity of Israel National Water Conduit”; and 2) “Map—The Struggle for Jordan Waters.” Neither is attached to the source text, but attachment 1 is appended to a memorandum from Grant to McGhee, August 30. (Ibid., 684A.85322/8-3062)
34. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-562. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford on September 1; cleared by Grant, Stokes, Wallner, Sisco, Blake (in substance), Feldman (in substance), and Little; and approved by Rusk. Sent to Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, and Tel Aviv and repeated to London, Paris, Ankara, Baghdad, Khartoum, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, Jerusalem, and USUN.
35. Special National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Department of State, S/S Files: Lot 86 D 189, Iran Collection. Secret. According to a note on the cover sheet, the estimate was submitted by the Director of Central Intelligence, and concurred in by the U.S. Intelligence Board.
36. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-1062. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, London, and Paris.
37. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Gilpatric)
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, Iran 381 (TS) 3 Aug 62. Secret. Another copy indicates the letter was drafted by Miklos (NEA/GTI) and cleared with Kettelhut (NEA/NR) and Russell (NEA). (Department of State, Central Files, 788.5/8-3162)
38. Memorandum From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hilsman) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 8/61–9/62. Secret; Noforn. No drafting information appears on the source text. The memorandum was received in the National Security Council at 3:18 p.m. on September 14.
39. Letter From President Kennedy to King Hussein
Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries, Jordan, 4/62–10/62. No classification marking. An earlier draft of this letter was forwarded to McGeorge Bundy on September 8 under cover of a memorandum from Brubeck, which noted, among other points, that Jordan’s attitude toward the Johnson Plan was of equal importance to that of Israel and the United Arab Republic, because more than half of the Palestinian refugees resided in Jordan. It also noted that the United States retained some leverage with Jordan because of large-scale U.S. economic assistance. A marginal notation on Brubeck’s memorandum indicates that the original of the memorandum was directed to Feldman on September 8. The attached draft letter shows changes in Komer’s handwriting. (Ibid.) The text of the letter was transmitted to the Embassy in Amman for delivery in telegram 116, September 14. (Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-1462)
40. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.5612/9-1462. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Barrow and Strong; cleared by McGhee, Wallner, and Newsom; and approved by Talbot. Sent to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Cairo, Khartoum, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, Jidda, and Jerusalem and repeated to London, Paris, Ankara, Tel Aviv, and USUN.
41. 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, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert Komer. Secret.
42. 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, Countries Series, Iran, 9/13/62–9/23/62. Secret.
43. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iran
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 788.5/9-1062. Secret; Niact. Drafted in the White House, cleared by Johnson and Rusk, and approved by Little. Repeated to USCINCEUR. The original draft of this telegram, much different than that printed here, was forwarded to Bundy on September 17 under cover of a memorandum from Brubeck. A copy of the text of the telegram showing Bundy’s handwritten changes and additions is in Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Iran, 9/24/62–9/30/62. Brubeck’s memorandum also transmitted a proposal from Rusk and McNamara that Ambassador Holmes, while presenting the multi-year MAP package, inform the Shah that President Kennedy had personally ordered the restoration of two naval frigates to Iran, which had earlier been deleted from the program due to budgetary stringencies. (Department of State, Central Files, 788.5/9-1762) This recommendation was made in response to an urgent plea from Holmes that the frigates be restored, because the Shah had personally asked President Kennedy to restore them. (Telegram 404 from Tehran, September 14; ibid., 788.5/9-1462)
44. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, Iran, 1962. Secret. Drafted by General Twitchell on September 20. The conversation was held at the Shah’s Summer Palace.
45. Memorandum From the Ambassador to Iran (Holmes) to the Shah of Iran
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 76 A 2, 6.111, 1962 Aide-Mire, Iran. Secret. Attached to the source text is a copy of a memorandum, dated September 19, to Holmes from Hussein Ala, Minister of the Court of the Shah of Iran, which conveyed the Iranian Government’s confirmation of the understanding reached orally that morning and agreement to the Five-Year Military Program presented in Holmes’ memorandum. Ala’s memorandum also affirmed Iranian desire that the United States provide three more tank battalions and two additional radar stations, and noted: “Should the international situation develop during the five-year period envisaged by the Program, in such manner as to pose threats to Iran not now foreseen, it is understood that the Program may be reviewed.”
46. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B43/9-1962. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Duncan; cleared by Gaud, Strong, Little, and Swank; and approved by Grant.
47. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Palestine, Refugees, 8/62–9/62, Vol. II. Secret. Copies were sent to Feldman and Kaysen.
48. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-2062. Secret. Drafted by Strong and cleared by Cleveland.
49. Telegram From the Embassy in Iraq to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.00/9-2062. Secret; Limit Distribution; No Foreign Eyes. Repeated to Ankara, Damascus, London, Paris, and Tehran.
51. Paper by the Officer in Charge of Arabian Peninsula Affairs (Seelye)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.11/9-2162. Secret. Cleared by Harold W. Glidden of INR. Forwarded to Bundy on September 21 under cover of a brief memorandum from Brubeck indicating that the paper might be of interest to President Kennedy. An attached summary noted that the Imam’s death could cause severe disturbances in Yemen and that Crown Prince Badr, who had expressed partiality to the Soviet bloc but proclaimed “positive neutralism,” was weak and had little support. It advised: “We believe the U.S. should avoid involving itself in a Yemeni power struggle unless Yemen should veer too far in the direction of the Sino-Soviet Bloc.”
52. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kaysen)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Palestine Refugees, Vol. II, 8/62–9/62. Secret. This memorandum was apparently forwarded to President Kennedy by Kaysen on September 23 under cover of a note that reads: “Attached is Bob Komer’s review of the present state of our discussions with the Israelis on the Johnson Plan. Phil Talbot takes the same view of the situation, and he has asked Rusk to call you on it. Rusk will probably call today (Sept 23). Since Komer finished the note, the Israeli Ambassador called on Talbot to tell him that Israel cannot accept the Plan. This need not be final, but we must act now if we are to avoid the blame for scuttling the Plan and double-dealing with Nasser. Part of the problem is Mike Feldman’s tendency to take only the Israeli side of the problem into account; hence the need for turning dealings with the Israelis over to the Secretary of State for the time being.” (Ibid., President’s Office Files, Countries Series, Israel)
53. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-2262. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong and cleared by Cleveland, who added the handwritten note: ”Adlai Stevenson has also seen and approved.” Secretary Rusk initialed the memorandum.
54. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kaysen)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Palestine, Refugees, Vol. II, 8/62–9/62. Secret. Komer forwarded this memorandum to Kaysen on September 25 under cover of a note that reads: “Attached is my summary of President’s views. I suggest that you show it to him. I also urge you show him Rusk’s briefing memo as evidence that State’s judgment on Israeli position is much different from Mike’s. In any case I don’t see how we lose, even domestically, by holding firm a little longer. We’ve got to consider cost to our whole effort with Arabs if on top of Hawk deal we back out on Johnson Plan without being able to avoid the blame. State and Joe Johnson sure handled tactics on this one poorly (they couldn’t have picked a worse time). I’m damn sorry that I was off keeping VP honest while this went on.” Komer added a handwritten note: ”Ball thinks Dept’s. position is ‘protected’ and will call Rusk in morning. I don’t think George realizes what’s at issue.” (Ibid.)
55. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.5612/9-2662. Confidential. No drafting information appears on the source text.
56. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-2662. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong, cleared by Cleveland, and approved by Talbot. Sent to Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, London, Paris, Ankara, Tel Aviv, and USUN and repeated to Baghdad, Khartoum, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, and Jerusalem.
57. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-2662. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Tel Aviv. Documentation relating to Secretary Rusk’s attendance at the 17th Session of the U.N. General Assembly is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 65 D 533, CF 2150-2163.
58. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/9-2762. Confidential. Drafted by Seelye and Sabbagh on October 5 and approved in S on October 12. The conversation was held in the Secretary’s suite at the Waldorf Towers.
59. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk, in New York
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/9-2762. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Barrow; cleared by Killgore, Breisky, Strong, Holloway, and Hewitt; and approved by Grant. Repeated to Cairo, Jidda, and London.
60. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/9-2762. Secret. Drafted by Killgore and Strong; cleared by Strong, Bergeson, and Breisky; and approved by Grant. Sent to Jidda, London, Asmara, Cairo, Taiz, Aden, and USUN for Secretary Rusk.