410. Editorial Note
The President met with Secretary of State Rusk, Secretary of Defense McNamara, Walt Rostow, and George Christian from 6:43 to 7:45 p.m. on April 20, 1967. (Johnson Library, President’s Daily Diary) An agenda for the meeting sent to the President by Rostow includes the following item:
“Aid to Israel—(Sect. Rusk)
- “a. You have a State memorandum on aid which was sent you as a basis for your discussion with Mr. Feinberg.
- “b. Sects. Rusk and McNamara have been asked for their views on the Israeli policy paper which I sent to them this morning. You have my views on the paper.
- “c. A new Israeli proposal: US engines for a French fighter. (Sect. McNamara)” (Ibid., National Security File, Files of Walt Rostow, Meetings With the President)
The “State memorandum on aid” apparently is a reference to Katzenbach’s April 17 memorandum (see footnote 5, Document 406). The “Israeli policy paper” is a reference to the memorandum cited in footnote 5, Document 407. Rostow sent partial copies to Rusk and McNamara with covering memoranda of April 20 stating that the President wanted to have their personal views at the meeting that day. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 72 A 2468, Israel 092) McNaughton commented in an April 20 memorandum to McNamara. (Ibid., Israel 091.3 MAP) Battle commented in an April 21 memorandum to Rusk. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 19–8 US–ISR) The Israeli request to purchase U.S.-made engines for French interceptor/fighter bombers was made by Israeli Deputy Minister of Defense Zvi Dinstein at an April 17 meeting with Vance. (Memorandum of conversation, filed with an April 21 memorandum from Hoopes to Vance; Washington National Records Center,RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 72 A 2468, Israel 091.112)
No record of the meeting has been found. The copy of the agenda with Rostow’s marginal notes (cited above) bears the following notes next to this agenda item: “Dimona. Post-trip.” and “Italians? APC’s. R.McN.”