Near East, 1962–1963
91. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786A.54866/11–762. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Seelye; cleared by Strong, Kettelhut, Quinn (DOD), and Gaud; and approved by Grant. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, London, Dhahran, Taiz, Aden (by pouch), and USUN.
92. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Records, 1962 Files, 9180/3100 (19 Oct 62). Secret.
93. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.5622/11–1062. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, and London.
94. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/11–1062. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Barrow, cleared by Strong, and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Jidda, London, Amman, Dhahran, and Taiz.
95. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–1262. Secret; Limit Distribution. An attached note from Talbot to Secretary Rusk indicates that certain unspecified changes had been made in the memorandum and its attachment in response to directives given by Rusk on November 11.
96. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86H/11–1262. Confidential. Drafted by Seelye. A covering memorandum from Talbot to Rusk indicates that McGhee and Strong concurred in the memorandum. An earlier version of this memorandum was sent to the White House on November 4. Marginal notations on the source text indicate that the memorandum was sent to Komer on November 5 and that the original was returned to the Department of State on November 7. A November 7 memorandum from Komer to Bromley Smith, attached to the White House copy of the earlier document, noted “I’ve told Jim Grant we’re returning these Yemen recognition papers in the light of the changed situation resulting from Saudi-UAR split. Grant agrees we now have to take a new look.” (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 11/1/62–11/15/62)
97. 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, 785.00/11–1362. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong.
98. Message From President Kennedy to Prime Minister Macmillan
Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204, President Kennedy’s Correspondence with Prime Minister Macmillan—1962–1963, Volume II. Secret. A typed note at the top on the source text reads: “To be delivered at opening of Business November 16.”On November 13, during a meeting with Rusk, Lord Hood asked that the United States delay plans to recognize the Yemen Arab Republic. Rusk responded that the United States was reluctant to delay recognition beyond mid-November. (Memorandum of conversation; ibid., Central Files, 786H.00/11–1362) That afternoon, Lord Home telephoned Rusk to convey British concern over Aden and the need to get something from Nasser in exchange for U.S. recognition. Rusk said that the United States would not recognize without a public UAR commitment to begin prompt disengagement. (Memorandum of telephone conversation; ibid., Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations) On November 14, Macmillan sent a message to Kennedy asking that the United States withhold recognition until the UAR presented a timetable and a final date for complete withdrawal. (Ibid., Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204, UK Official Correspondence with President Kennedy)
99. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/11–1662. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong, Davies, and Barrow; cleared by Cleveland, Rogers, and Komer; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Jidda, Amman, and Taiz and repeated to Dhahran, London, and USUN.
100. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/11–1662. Secret; Niact; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Seelye and Strong; cleared by Cleveland, Rogers (S/S), and Komer; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Cairo, Jidda, and Taiz and repeated to London, USUN, and Dhahran.
101. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/11–2062. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Dhahran, Cairo, Amman, London for CINCNELM, and Paris for CINCEUR POLAD.
102. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–2162. Confidential. Drafted by Crawford; cleared by Sisco, Davies, and Breisky; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to USUN.
103. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer. Secret.
104. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 11/16/62–11/30/62. Secret.
105. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) and the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Cleveland) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–2862. Secret. Drafted by Strong, Crawford, Jackson, and Palmer. Talbot sent this memorandum to Rusk under cover of a note that reads: “As our meeting with you has been postponed to 3:30 p.m., I hope you will have an opportunity before that to consider whether a meeting with the President to discuss the U.S. posture in the Arab refugee issue should be requested for later this afternoon. As the attached memo indicates, we believe we can progress no further with tactical plans until a basic strategic decision has been made. In addition, Mr. Feldman is anxious that the White House be involved in this matter. Unfortunately time is short. We understand that the President’s schedule might permit a meeting about 5 o’clock today.” A handwritten notation on this note adds: “Secretary read, discussed with Clevelend, Talbot, et al. 11/28, & used as basis for talk w/JFK 11/28, but memo itself not sent to WH.” Rusk, Talbot, and Feldman met with Kennedy on November 28 between 5:05 and 5:30 p.m. Rusk stayed an additional 15 minutes alone with Kennedy. (Kennedy Library, President’s Appointment Book)
106. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–2962. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Sisco; cleared by Talbot, Cleveland, and Little; and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Tel Aviv.
107. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/11–3062. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford, cleared by Talbot, and approved by Cleveland. Repeated to Tel Aviv.
108. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries, Israel Security. Confidential. Drafted by Crawford. Komer sent this memorandum to President Kennedy under cover of a memorandum that reads: “I’m told Rusk will be calling you shortly on the Israeli reply to our Arab refugee package (attached is Talbot’s memo to Rusk for your background). State and Mike Feldman apparently disagree over whether or not the Israeli response is satisfactory. State thinks emphatically not. Our proposals to Israel were most forthcoming. If we retreat further now we should do so in full recognition that we will be abandoning any hope of a refugee initiative along the lines we’ve favored (and which, in my judgment, offer the only hope of movement on this painful issue). I urge that we review this problem again, since a basic decision as to whether it is worthwhile to proceed further with any refugee plan is the underlying issue really involved.”
109. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Israel, 12/22/62. Secret.
110. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, IO/UNP Files; Lot 72 D 294, PCC—-Johnson Mission. Secret. Prior to this meeting, Secretary Rusk telephoned President Kennedy, and in Talbot’s presence, told him that Israel’s response to the U.S. proposals on the Palestine refugee question was not adequate, and asked the President to chose among three options; (1) the United States would proceed on the basis of its own understanding of the proposals; (2) the United States would not proceed until it reached agreement with Israel; or (3) the United States could agree to immediate submission of the Johnson report to the PCC. The President chose the first alternative. (Memorandum for the files by Strong, December 6; ibid.; for text, see the Supplement, the compilation on the Arab-Israel dispute)
111. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/12–662. Confidential. Drafted by Crawford; cleared by Talbot, Sisco, Strong, and Newsom (in substance); and approved by Cleveland. Sent to USUN and repeated to Paris, Algiers, Amman, Ankara, Baghdad, Beirut, Benghazi, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, Khartoum, London, Mogadiscio, Rabat, Tel Aviv, Tripoli, Tunis, and Jerusalem.
112. 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, 786H.02/12–662. Secret. Drafted by Seelye and Strong and concurred in by Talbot. Komer transmitted this memorandum to President Kennedy under cover of a December 6 memorandum recommending that the President approve the Department of State request. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, United Arab Republic, Nasser Correspondence) Komer’s memorandum also forwarded telegram 464 from Jidda, December 5, in which Hart emphasized Royalist military gains and their ability to continue military action. Hart recommended that the United States not give up its recognition plan, arguing that without recognition, a Soviet presence would replace the U.S. presence in Yemen, and that continued Saudi involvement in Yemen would undermine Saudi stability. (Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/12–562) A handwritten notation on Komer’s memorandum reads: “Oked by Pres. per McGB evening 6 Dec “62.” For text of Komer’s memorandum, see the Supplement, the compilation on Yemen.
113. Telegram From the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 686B.86H/12–1062. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, London, Taiz, and Dhahran.
114. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.02/12–1262. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Seelye; cleared by Strong, Johnson, and Knox; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to London and Sanaa and repeated to Amman, Beirut, Jidda, Khartoum, Taiz, USUN, and Paris for Rusk.
115. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786B.11/12–1762. Secret. Drafted by Strong on December 15. On December 15, Talbot forwarded a text of this memorandum to Rusk with a recommendation that he sign it. Talbot’s transmittal memorandum reads: “In his talk with Ambassador Badeau on December 12, the President raised the question of a visit by President Nasser. After discussion, the President approved the visit in principle. We have now been asked to submit a formal memorandum. If at all possible, we desire a final decision before the President departs for Nassau in view of Ambassador Badeau’s departure for Cairo on December 22.” (Ibid.)
117. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B/12–2162. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Jones on December 28.
118. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Israel, 12/22/62. Secret. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “Ret’d frm Mrs. Lincoln 1/9/63.”
119. Telegram From the Legation in Yemen to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.02/12–2262. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, Jidda, London, and Beirut.
120. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786.11/12–2462. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Jones, Seelye, and Badeau on December 21; cleared by Slater, Tonesk (U/PR), Swank (S), Komer, McGhee, Hooper (AFN), and Strong; and approved by Talbot.