Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVIII, Near East, 1962–1963

40. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts⁰

Washington, September 14, 1962, 4:35 p.m.

461. Israel has been informed US willing sell ground-to-air missiles and UK mentioned also as possible source of supply. However UK has not yet informed GOI of willingness to compete for sale. Details to be worked out later. Possibility of early leak can not be discounted. Accordingly following constitutes stand-by guidance for use quietly with responsible officials of government to which accredited and other leaders only after becomes public knowledge.¹

We have been consistently reluctant become major supplier of sophisticated weapons in NE. Despite long-standing Israel requests US previously resisted this step. However in view build-up of offensive air and missile capability in area we obliged to respond sympathetically Israel’s request for short-range purely defensive ground-to-air interceptor missiles. USSR has already agreed supply such missiles to Iraq and possibly UAR. This is specific action designed to meet specific situation and by no means constitutes change in US policy in area.

US remains deeply troubled by dangers and by burdens on economies of countries concerned to which undesirable proliferation of sophisticated weapons in NE gives rise. We are giving careful consideration in near future to means whereby we might be helpful in halting NE arms spiral. We would welcome any thoughts in this regard now or in future.

If asked whether US would sell same missiles to Arab countries, you may respond US would give careful consideration to any request.

FYI. At such time as response to public inquiries necessary, Department proposes make low key statement. Posts should avoid public statements. End FYI.²

For London: Foregoing cleared with UK Embassy.

For Paris: You may immediately inform FonOff at high level in confidence.

Rusk

0. 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.
1. A note from Grant to Talbot, Crawford, and Strong, August 31, on the question of publicity on the sale of the Hawk missile and related questions indicates that Feldman was “amenable to no disclosure from the White House through mid-September,” but wanted to discuss the question on September 6. Grant had informed Feldman that “we would like to keep the wraps on, ideally, until training or delivery starts, but recognize this is probably impossible. Failing that we very much would like to maintain security until the Acting Administrator for the Johnson Plan is in place in the field, hopefully by early October. I noted that it would be disastrous to the Johnson Plan, in our opinion, if word leaked out before mid-September, while the Arab governments were still forming their first reactions to the Johnson Plan.” (Ibid., NEA/NE Files: Lot 65 D 5, Israel. 1962. U.S. Milit. Asst.—Gen. 2-As)
2. On September 26 in circular telegram 530, the Department of State forwarded to concerned posts the text of the press guidance being used by Department of State spokesmen in New York and Washington in response to questions about U.S. willingness to sell the Hawk missile to Israel. (Ibid., Central Files, 784A.5612/9-2662)