622. Memorandum Prepared by the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow)1
Washington, July 14, 1966.
Following the National Security Council meeting today, the President asked the Secretary of State to set up a task force on the South West Africa problem composed of those officers in State, Defense, AID, USIA, CIA, and the NSC Staff, who are primarily responsible for African Affairs.
The task force is to prepare:
- (1)
- a suggested U.S. statement for use immediately following the court decision;
- (2)
- a short term “holding” position to permit us time to assess the decision and reactions to it at home, in Africa and among our allies;
- (3)
- a longer-range plan for dealing with this issue in Africa, in the Western alliance, in the East-West arena and in the UN.
The task force is to work closely with Ambassador Goldberg and his staff.
The task force should establish and maintain close relations with those members of Congress and their staff who are interested in African problems.
W.W. Rostow
- Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 318, July 14, 1966. Confidential. Filed with a covering memorandum to the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Defense, the AID Administrator, USIA Director, and Director of Central Intelligence.↩