Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

303. Memorandum From William H. Brubeck of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)⁰

Washington, October 11, 1963.

In view of his exchange with Haile Selassie on the subject of military assistance to Somalia the President should know that:

1. Our Ambassador in Somalia has been unofficially informed that the Somalis have accepted a Soviet offer of $30 million in military assist-ance.

2. As soon as this is made public we will announce promptly termination of our own military aid program (no deliveries have yet been made).¹ The amount is trivial (half a million dollars a year US, $5-6 million German and Italian annually which will probably also end). This will make the Ethiopians happy.

3. We will stay in Somalia with limited economic aid ($4 million a year) and the Peace Corps.

Bill Brubeck²

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Somalia. Confidential.
1. Telegram 221 to Mogadiscio, October 11, instructed the Embassy to call on the President to express the deep regrets and concern of the U.S. Government at the reported decision of the Somali Council of Ministers to accept an offer of large-scale Soviet military aid. (Department of State, Central Files, AID 6 SOMALI)
2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.