Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1964–1967
211. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 70 A 1266, Israel 470. Secret; Sensitive. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads: “Sec Def has seen Brief.”
212. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL ARAB–ISR. Confidential. No time of transmission is given on the telegram, which was received at 10:38 a.m. Repeated to Amman, Beirut, and Damascus.
213. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL ARAB–ISR. Confidential. No time of transmission is given on the telegram, which was received at 7:37 a.m. Repeated to Beirut, Cairo, and Damascus.
214. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, Israel, PM Eshkol Correspondence. Secret; Exclusive Distribution. The memorandum has no drafting information, but another copy indicates that it was drafted by Russell on April 30 and cleared by Talbot, Jernegan, SCI Acting Director Herman Pollack, Thomas, ACDA Assistant Director for International Relations Jacob D. Beam, ACDA Assistant Director for Science and Technology Herbert Scoville, Jr., and Davies, and in substance with Scott George of G/PM. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 27 ARAB–ISR) The memorandum was sent to the President with a May 19 memorandum from Komer commenting that he and Harriman had pressed the matter with Eshkol to no avail. It was Komer’s judgment that Israel was determined to keep the option open as a deterrent against the Arabs. Nonetheless, he thought the letter would be a useful reminder to the Israelis of the President’s personal interest in the matter.
215. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL ARAB–ISR. Secret; Priority; Exdis. There is no time of transmission on the telegram, which was received at 10:36 a.m. Passed to the White House.
216. Memorandum for Record
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Komer Memos, Vol. I. Secret. A copy was sent to McGeorge Bundy.
217. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL UAR-US. Secret. Drafted by Jones on May 20; cleared by Davies, Blake, and Komer; and approved by Jernegan. Repeated by pouch to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Jidda, Taiz, Tel Aviv, and Tripoli.
218. Letter From President Johnson to Prime Minister Eshkol
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, Israel, PM Eshkol Correspondence. Secret. No drafting information appears on the letter, but see Document 214. The letter was transmitted to Tel Aviv in telegram 1188, May 21. (National Archives and Records Administration,RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, AE 11–2 ISR) Barbour reported in telegram 1510 from Tel Aviv, May 25, that he had delivered the letter on May 24. Eshkol’s preliminary comments were (1) that Israel was already among the countries that had agreed to IAEA inspection of part of its nuclear reactors, and (2) that the cost to Israel of relinquishing a psychological deterrent was in his view a matter of importance in the Israeli security picture. (Ibid.) A briefing paper prepared in NEA/IAI on September 19, 1966, noted that President Johnson never received a reply to this letter. (Ibid., POL ISR–US)
219. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 32–1 ISR–SYR. Secret; Exdis.
220. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 32–1 ISR–JORDAN. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Russell; cleared by Davies, Campbell, Staff Assistant in EUR George W. Jaeger, and Talbot; and approved by Talbot. Sent to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, Jidda, London, Paris, Jerusalem, CINCSTRIKE/CINCMEAFSA, USUN, Bonn, Rome, and Moscow.
221. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. 10. No classification marking.
222. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 ISR. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Russell; cleared by Symmes, Talbot, Solbert, Bunte, Creel, and Komer; and approved by Rusk. A May 27 draft by Russell is attached with a note that the telegram was retyped with White House changes. Repeated to London, Bonn, and to Paris for the Embassy and DEFREPNAMA.
223. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 32–1 ISR–UAR. Confidential. Drafted by Wolle on June 9.
224. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. IV. Secret. A note on the source text states that the memorandum was received at 10 a.m.
225. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Arab Republic, Vol. IV. Secret. A note at the end of the memorandum in Bundy’s handwriting reads: “I am absolutely sure we should do this—because if we don’t the explosion will be our fault. We can haggle like Hell in the next phase. McGB.”
226. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. 12. Confidential.
227. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 33–1 JORDAN RIVER. Confidential. Drafted by Wolle and Kinsolving, cleared by Symmes and in substance by Campbell, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Beirut, Amman, Cairo, Damascus, London, and Paris, and pouched to Jerusalem.
228. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL UAR-US. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. The telegram does not indicate the time of transmission; it was received at 12:21 p.m. Passed to the White House.
229. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, AID (US) 15–4 UAR. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Russell, cleared by Symmes, and approved by Talbot.
230. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Komer, Vol. I. Secret.
231. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, AE 11–2 ISR. Secret; Exdis/Tan. Drafted by Anton N. Nyerges; cleared by Talbot, Spain, Scoville, Komer, Symmes, Thomas, Colonel Haynes in DOD, and Wolle; and approved and initialed by Rusk.
232. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL UAR-US. Secret. Drafted by Davies.
233. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, AID (US) 15 UAR. Secret; Limdis. No time of transmission is given on the telegram, which was received at 8:20 a.m.
234. Memorandum for Record
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Komer Memos, Vol. I. Secret. Copies were sent to the Department of State and to Deputy Director for Central Intelligence Richard Helms.
236. Action Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Handley) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 ISR. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Nyerges; cleared by Officer in Charge of Politico-Military Affairs in NR Lieutenant Colonel Billy W. Byrd, Davies, Evans in DOD/ISA, Meyers, and in substance by Townsend W. Hoopes in DOD/ISA.
237. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Arab Republic, UAR Memos, Vol. IV. Secret.
238. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL ARAB–ISR. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Tel Aviv.
239. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 3 PAL ENTITY. Confidential. Drafted by Campbell, cleared by UNP Deputy Director Jonathan Dean and in substance by Wolle, and approved by William B. Buffum. Repeated to Tel Aviv.
240. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Conference Files: Lot 66 D 347, CF 2547. Confidential. Drafted by Officer in Charge of Multilateral Organization Affairs in NR Daniel O. Newberry and approved in S on October 14. The meeting was held at USUN. The memorandum is marked Part V of V; the other four memoranda of conversation are ibid.