Western Europe Region
151. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret. Drafted by Leddy. The time of the meeting is from Rusk’s Appointment Book. (Johnson Library)
152. Telegram From the Mission to the European Communities to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret. Repeated to London, Bonn, Geneva, The Hague, Luxembourg, Paris, and Rome.
153. Memorandum
Source: Department of State, President’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 70 D 217. Secret. The source text bears no drafting information, but is attached to an April 10 memorandum from Ball to the President, which states that both the Departments of State and Defense agreed on the language in the memorandum. In a telegram to the President on April 11, Bator referred to the memorandum as the “draft Ball-Acheson instruction” and noted that it was perhaps tougher than Johnson might have wished. (CAP 66158; Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, NATO, General, Vol. 3)
154. Aide-Mémoire From the U.S. Government to the French Government
Source: Department of State, President’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 70 D 217. No classification marking. The source text bears no clearing or drafting information, but the aide-memoire was discussed with the other 14 NATO allies excluding France on April 7 and sent to the President for his approval on April 8. (Memorandum from Ball to Johnson, April 8; ibid., Central Files, DEF 4 NATO) Also printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1966, pp. 328–330.
155. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, NATO, General, Vol. 3. Secret. The source text bears no drafting information, but it is attached to an April 12 memorandum from Bator to the President, which stated that it was an excellent exploratory memorandum, which had Acheson’s support. Bator added that the procedure and suggested plan in paragraphs 2 and 3 offered a real opportunity to break the existing impasse and would provide a good basis for a reply to Prime Minister Wilson’s letter (Document 149).
156. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 38–6. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to the other NATO capitals and Berlin.
157. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, NATO, General, Vol. 3. Secret.
158. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret; Immediate. Repeated to the other NATO capitals and passed to the White House and USIA.
159. National Security Action Memorandum No. 345
Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316. Secret; Nodis. Rostow sent a draft of the NSAM, dated April 18, to Johnson attached to an April 21 memorandum. In the memorandum, Rostow stated that he, Rusk, McNamara, Acheson, Ball, and Bator all agreed on the need to concentrate on nuclear consultation. However, McNamara believed that a European clause contained in the draft should be excluded. (Johnson Library, Papers of Francis Bator, Box 28, Nuclear Role for Germany) Apparently the draft was discussed at a meeting at the White House on April 21, since the European clause was deleted and the second paragraph of the text printed here was added.
160. Telegram From the Embassy in Germany to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Confidential. Repeated to London and Paris.
161. Memorandum from President Johnson to Secretary of State Rusk and Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Confidential; Nodis.
162. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret. Drafted by Spiers on May 11; cleared by Beigel, Acheson, Ball, and Thompson; and approved by Schaetzel. Repeated to London and Bonn.
163. Memorandum by Dean Acheson
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret; Nodis. Attached to the source text are a transmittal memorandum from Acheson to Rusk, May 13, and a memorandum from Rusk to the President, also dated May 13, saying that the memorandum had been prepared at Rostow’s suggestion and that he and McNamara agreed that it formed a good basis for further guidance on negotiations with France over NATO.
164. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts in Europe
Source: Department of State, Central Files, EEC 6 SP. Confidential. Drafted by Thomas W. Fina (RPE) and Jacob M. Myerson (U), cleared by McKillop, and approved and initialed by Ball. Sent to 14 posts in Western Europe.
165. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant and Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow and Bator) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, Walt Rostow, Box 7, Vol. 3. Secret.
166. Diary Entry by the Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Bruce)
Source: Department of State, Bruce Diaries: Lot 64 D 327. Secret.
167. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of Sate, Central Files, NATO 3 BEL(BR). Confidential. Drafted by Stoessel. The source text is labeled “Part I of II Parts.” A summary of the discussion, which was held at the White House, was transmitted to the NATO capitals in circular telegram 2292, May 21. (Ibid., POL 7 BEL)
168. Telegram From President Johnson to Prime Minister Wilson
Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 67 D 272. Secret; Nodis. The source text bears no drafting information, but a shorter draft is attached to a May 19 memorandum from Ball to the President. (Ibid.)
169. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Germany
Source: Department of State, Central Files, NATO 3 BEL(BR). Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Spiers; cleared by Ball, Acheson, Schaetzel, and GER; and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Paris.
170. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts in Europe
Source: Department of State, Central Files, EEC 7. Confidential. Drafted by Hinton, cleared by U and E, and approved by Schaetzel. Sent to Bonn, Brussels for the Embassy and USEC, The Hague, London, Luxembourg, Paris, Rome, and Geneva.
171. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara and Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson
Source: Department of State, Bohlen Files: Lot 74 D 379, US-Fr Bilateral Discussions. Secret; Nodis. The source text bears no drafting information, but in a May 24 memorandum to Ball, Acheson reported that the memorandum was written under his direction, cleared with the Department of Defense, AEC, and JCS, and that McNamara had suggested a number of changes that had been incorporated into the paper.
172. Letter From the Ambassador to France (Bohlen) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Bohlen Files: Lot 74 D 379, Rusk. Confidential; Personal.
173. Memorandum by the Acheson Group
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret. Attached to a June 3 memorandum from Vance and Ball to President Johnson, drafted by Acheson, which states that this memorandum is the final response to NSAM 345 (Document 159).
174. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. The source text bears no time of transmission; the telegram was received at 4:28 p.m.
175. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret; Priority; Nodis. The source text bears no time of transmission; the telegram was received at 4:48 p.m.
176. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by McGhee and approved in S on August 12. The source text is labeled “Part 2 of 11.”
177. Telegram From the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Regional Organizations to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, NATO 3 BEL(BR). Confidential. Repeated to the other NATO capitals.
178. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant and Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow and Bator) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, Papers of Francis Bator, Box 28, NSAM 345. Confidential.
179. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, S/S–I Files: Lot 79 D 246. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Thompson and approved in S/AL and S/S on June 25.
180. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in France and Germany
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 12 US. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Vincent Baker (EUR/RPM); cleared by Schaetzel, McNaughton, Legal Adviser Leonard Meeker, WE, RPM, G/PM, and AEC; and approved by Ball. Repeated to the other NATO capitals.
- McNamara’s signature is dated May 24; Rusk’s May 28.↩