Office of the Historian

108. National Security Action Memorandum No. 3191

Washington, November 20, 1964.

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • The Secretary of State
  • The Secretary of Agriculture
  • The Administrator, Agency for International Development

SUBJECT

  • US Aid to the UAR

Given the Congressional and other criticism of aid to the UAR, I think it would be desirable to let the President review our policy on this matter before any new decisions are taken. I don’t mean to suggest that he is dissatisfied with existing policy, but merely that he should be fully apprised of the case for any new aid measures, particularly since they entail potential domestic reactions.

So I suggest that you provide him in due course with your recommendations on proposed FY 1965–66 US aid, including PL 480, together with an analysis of what we expect to gain from such aid and what leverage it provides us. It might also be useful to discuss what other alternatives are open to us. Mid-December would be a good target date.

McGeorge Bundy
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, NSAM Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 319. Secret.↩