376. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)0
McGB:
Key issues on which Presidential stamp needed shortly are following (I’ve held off harassing as long as I could but time growing short as indicated):
1. Yemen. We’re probably in for real trouble here, as no one now thinks UAR will pull enough out by 4 January to permit us to get disengagement extended once again. Nasser has the bear by the tail and the fool can’t let go. So we face some tough decisions (a) on our jets, which we’re in effect committed to withdraw if Faysal resumes arms shipments; (b) what next steps to prevent explosion. Airing of UAR’s record of course will make it all the harder for LBJ not to cut off aid under Gruening Amendment. At my urging NEA (but not 7th floor yet) is ready with anti-Saudi proposals (To Jidda 4401 attached). However, Hart (Jidda 561)2 thinks we should go to UN and pin Nasser. In any case, at latest we ought to give LBJ a brief this weekend and meet early next week.3
[Page 820][Here follows item 2 on an unrelated matter.]
3. Arab/Israeli problems and Israeli demands. Though no immediate issue presses (we have Eshkol 4 November letter4 to answer but can stall), we need to lay out whole complex of problems (security guarantee, aid to UAR, arms requests, Dimona and missiles, Jordan waters, refugees, etc.) to LBJ and get clear signal lest we fail to protect ourselves here and get defeated in detail. I’ve asked for State paper but would also do my own. We ought to have review before Xmas.
[Here follow items 4–6 on unrelated matters.]
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Komer Memos, Vol. 2. Secret.↩
- Document 373.↩
- Document 372.↩
- A marginal notation by Komer at this point reads: “How about SG on these?”↩
- See Document 356.↩