Office of the Historian

354. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Bundy)0

Washington, November 6, 1963.

Dear Bill: I had delayed replying to Paul Nitze’s letter of October 8 concerning the extension of Hard Surface in Saudi Arabia pending clarification of recent developments connected with Yemen. Now that Prince Faisal has agreed to the extension of UNYOM’s mandate, we are in a position to report our current views.1

We welcome the “negotiating instruments” listed in the referenced letter as means of cushioning any adverse effect the withdrawal of Hard Surface would have on the Saudi Government. We have already instructed Ambassador Hart again to make clear to Faisal the temporary nature of the Hard Surface deployment. At the appropriate moment before Hard Surface is withdrawn from Saudi Arabia, we agree we should carry out the other courses of action you recommend.

As you will recall, last month we indicated to Faisal that we would withdraw Hard Surface should Saudi Arabia resume its aid to the royalists [Page 770] upon the termination of UNYOM’s earlier mandate (November 4). This played an important role in getting Faisal both to continue to go along with UNYOM and to refrain from resuming his aid to the Yemeni royalists. Therefore, we believe it is particularly important that Hard Surface should be kept in Saudi Arabia several weeks longer, preferably until the end of this year. This appears to accord with the President’s views as reflected in the National Security Action Memorandum No. 262 of October 10, 1963,2 and in the Department’s telegram No. 342 of October 28 to Jidda.3

I would be happy to discuss this matter with you further at your convenience.4

Sincerely yours,

Phillips Talbot5
  1. Source: Department of State, NEA/NE Files: Lot 66 D 116, DEF-19, Saudi Arabia. Secret. Drafted by Seelye on November 5 and cleared by Davies.↩
  2. In telegram 476 from Jidda, November 4, Ambassador Hart expressed his hope that given Faysal’s promise of continued support for UNYOM, the United States would plan for the extension of Hard Surface until early January. (Ibid., Central Files, DEF 6–3 US) Nitze’s letter is Document 336.↩
  3. Document 337.↩
  4. Document 350.↩
  5. This letter was transmitted to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under cover of a memorandum from Nitze, indicating that the White House staff had confirmed that the President did not wish to withdraw Hard Surface pending clarification of events in the area, and that the Joint Chiefs should consider continuing the deployment until December 31. Nitze assured General Taylor that the Defense Department would continue to emphasize to the Department of State that the forces should be withdrawn as quickly as possible. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Records, 9180/3100 (27 Feb. 63), Sec. 2) On November 9, the Joint Chiefs extended the deployment of Hard Surface until December 31 in JCS telegram 3520, DTG 091747Z Nov 63. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Saudi Arabia)↩
  6. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩