Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1964–1967
61. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 ISR. Confidential. Drafted by Russell, cleared by Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Henry J. Tasca, and approved by Jernegan. Sent to Cairo, Damascus, Beirut, Baghdad, Jidda, Amman, and Kuwait and repeated to Baida, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, Khartoum, Taiz, and Tel Aviv.
62. 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. Top Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Dickman and Harrison M. Symmes; cleared by Wreatham E. Gathright of S/P, Deputy Assistant Director of ACDA’s International Relations Bureau Richard B. Freund, and Komer; and approved by Jernegan.
63. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Eshkol Visit, 6/1–3/64. Secret. Sent to Johnson with a brief covering memorandum from Bundy calling it “absolutely first-class.”
64. 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. Top Secret;Exdis. Drafted by Davies and Symmes, cleared by Komer, and approved by Jernegan.
65. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. II. Top Secret. Drafted by Feldman. A handwritten note by Komer on a July 30 memorandum from Read to Bundy, returning the memorandum of conversation to the White House after its review by Talbot, states that it represented the work of Feldman, Harman, Talbot, Harriman, and himself. (Ibid.) According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting was held in the President’s office at the White House. The President and the Prime Minister met alone from 11:30 to 11:45 a.m., when they were joined by Feldman and Harman. The other participants joined them at 12:05 p.m., and the meeting concluded at 12:46. (Ibid.)
66. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff and the Under Secretary of State (Ball)
Source: Johnson Library, Ball Papers, Israel. No classification marking. Prepared in Ball’s office.
67. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12 ISR. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Russell on June 15 and approved in U and in M on June 22. Prior to Ball’s meeting with Eshkol, the Prime Minister met with Harriman and U. Alexis Johnson for a general discussion of the international scene. (Memorandum of conversation; ibid., POL ISR–US) At 12:15 p.m., Eshkol and Peres met with Vance and received a briefing on U.S. military capabilities to defend Israel. Vance rejected their suggestion of joint contingency planning but indicated willingness to consider periodic discussions with Israel on military subjects. (Memorandum of conversation; ibid., ARAB–ISR)
68. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Eshkol Visit, 6/1–3/64. Secret.
69. Memorandum for Record
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. II. Top Secret. Copies were sent to McGeorge Bundy, Vance, Harriman, Talbot, and Sloan. The attachment indicates that the conversation took place on June 5.
70. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, REF PAL. Confidential.
71. 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. Top Secret;Exdis.
72. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Corresponddence File, Syria, Presidential Correspondence. Secret.
73. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State,NEA/IAI Files: Lot 69 D 492, POL 22/1, Arab-Israel Dispute, May–June 1964. Secret.
74. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Arab Republic, Vol. II. Confidential. Drafted by Talbot and Badeau and approved by the White House on July 23. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting was held at the White House from 1:02 to 1:16 p.m. (Ibid.)
75. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Rusk and the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)
Source: National Archives and Records Administration,RG 59, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Rusk Telephone Conversations. No classification marking. Prepared by Rusk’s personal assistant Carolyn J. Proctor.
76. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Under Secretary of State (Ball) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)
Source: Johnson Library, Ball Papers, United Arab Republic. No classification marking. Prepared in Ball’s office.
77. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 32–1 ISR–SYR. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Officer in Charge of UN Political Affairs in the Middle East Stephen Campbell of UNP, cleared by Paul W. Jones of UNP and Davies, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to USUN, Damascus, and Jerusalem.
78. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 JORDAN. Secret. Drafted by Symmes and Davies; concurred in by Officer in Charge of Politico-Military Affairs in NR Colonel Donald W. Bunte and Colonel William B. Robinson of G/PM; and sent through Harriman.
79. Information Memorandum From the Department of State’s Executive Secretary (Read) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 18 NEAR E. Secret. There is no drafting information on the memorandum. Concurred in by Davies and sent through Harriman. A handwritten notation indicates that it was seen by Rusk on July 28.
80. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Komer Memos, Vol. I. Secret.
81. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 68 A 306, 452.1 Jordan. Secret.
82. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 JORDAN. Secret. Drafted by Stoddart and Colonel Donald W. Bunte; cleared by Solbert, John P. Walsh, Symmes, George L. Warren of G/PM, and Macomber; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Cairo and repeated to London.
83. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 69 A 7425, Arabia 091. Secret.
84. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 19–3 US–JORDAN. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Drafted by Killgore, Symmes, and Duncan; cleared by Stoddart, Macomber, Warren, and Komer; and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Cairo and London.
85. Oral Message From President Johnson to King Hussein
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 JORDAN. Confidential. Filed as an attachment to telegram 80 to Amman, August 8, which transmitted the text of the message and instructed the Ambassador to deliver it when he met with the King to discuss Jordan’s arms requests. A note on the message in Komer’s handwriting states that it was approved by the President at 2:20 p.m. on August 8. The original message, drafted in the Department of State and only slightly revised, is also attached to telegram 80.
86. Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, UAR-Nasser Correspondence, Vol. I. Top Secret. Filed with a covering memorandum from Read to Bundy. The covering memorandum is also undated, but another copy is dated August 8 and indicates the memorandum was drafted by Dickman and Symmes and cleared by Gathright, Freund, James W. Spain, Talbot, and Harriman. (National Archives and Records Administration,RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 15–1 US/JOHNSON)
87. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, United Arab Republic, Kamel Visit, 8/64. Secret. Prepared by Komer on August 12. Copies were sent to Harriman, Bundy, Bell, and Talbot. Marginal notations in Bundy’s handwriting read: “Approved con amore. McGB.” and “You make me so much smarter than I am. McGB.”
88. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 19–3, US–JORDAN. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Killgore; cleared by Symmes, in draft by Bunte, and in substance by Komer and Stoddart; and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Cairo, London, and CINCSTRIKE/CINCMEAFSA.
89. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Arab Republic, Vol. II. Top Secret;Exdis. The memorandum does not include drafting information, but another copy indicates it was cleared by Talbot and Gathright. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 US/McCLOY) An attached note in Komer’s handwriting states that the memorandum was not used since Johnson was not going to see McCloy, but Johnson did meet with McCloy for 5 minutes on August 14. (Johnson Library, President’s Daily Diary) An August 15 note from Dickman to Symmes states that McCloy said he had briefly outlined the high points of his proposed presentation to Nasser, and the President commented that this seemed to make sense and that he hoped Nasser would view McCloy’s presence as a symbolic link between the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. (Department of State,NEA/IAI Files: Lot 72 D 438, Background Papers for 2nd McCloy Probe w/Nasser, 9/64)
90. Letter From President Johnson to President Nasser
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, United Arab Republic, Nasser Correspondence, Vol. I. No classification marking. Drafted by the President, the Department of State, and Komer. The text was transmitted to Cairo in telegram 914, August 17, which stated that the Embassy should not deliver it pending instructions. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 15–1 US/JOHNSON)