Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVIII, Near East, 1962–1963

Near East, 1962–1963

1. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, July 7, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 811.0086B/7–762. Secret. Drafted by Duncan (NEA/NE) on July 6 and cleared by Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Phillips Talbot.

2. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk

Washington, July 9, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.84A/7–962. Secret. Drafted by Strong on July 5, cleared by Newman and Williams (AID), and approved by Wallner. Sent through Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs McGhee. A July 12 memorandum from Strong to Russell, Grant, and Talbot indicates that this memorandum and its attachments were transmitted from McGhee to Secretary Rusk on July 12. (Ibid., 611.80/7–1262) The source text bears a handwritten note by Wallner that reads “See attached memorandum” and a typed reference to Tab L.

3. Letter From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Bundy) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Grant)

Washington, July 16, 1962.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, #6, Middle East, 1962. Secret.

4. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, July 16, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert Komer. Secret.

5. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, July 18, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert Komer. Secret. Komer forwarded this memorandum to Bundy on July 18 under cover of a note that reads: “Talbot has already called JFK with aid figures. We’ve given or pledged Amini $87.3 in grants and loans, in contrast to four year average of $59.4. He forgot to tell JFK that Amini’s reference to ‘previous government’ (which probably irked President) was to Amini’s predecessor, not Eisenhower. At any rate, heart of matter is do we sit back and hope for best or try actively to salvage Amini. Spent force or no, he’s still our best bet. Hence the attached.” No indication has been found that the memorandum was forwarded to President Kennedy.

6. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel

Washington, July 18, 1962, 9:34 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.84A/7–1862. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Crawford; cleared by Buffum, Cleveland, and Strong; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to USUN and repeated to Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Cairo, Jerusalem, and London.

7. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Washington, July 19, 1962, 1:22 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B/7–1962. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Barrow on July 14; cleared by Little, Strong, and McGeorge Bundy; and approved by Talbot.

8. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, July 19, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert Komer. Secret.

9. Memorandum of Conversations

Washington, July 28, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 886B.411/8-662. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford on September 5 and approved in S on September 18. Johnson concurred in this record of the conversation.

10. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, July 28, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B/7–2862. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Barrow on July 27 and cleared by Talbot. Komer forwarded this memorandum to Kennedy on July 30 under cover of a note that reads: “The UAR Ambassador’s remarks on his return from consultations in Cairo are encouraging evidence that our desire for better relations with Nasser is understood and reciprocated. While Kamel himself has long sought better US/UAR relations, and may be a slightly biased witness, there’s little doubt that most of his remarks were under instructions and designed to reach your ears. We’ll have a draft reply to Nasser’s latest letter for you shortly, plus suggestions for an overture aimed at tacit arms limitations between Israel and the UAR.” (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, United Arab Republic, 7/62–8/62)

11. Letter From President Kennedy to the Shah of Iran

Washington, August 1, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries Series, Iran. No classification marking. The Department of State sent this text to the White House on July 27 under cover of a memorandum from Brubeck to Bundy that noted, among other points, that President Kennedy should prepare the Shah for his disappointment at not receiving the military assistance he had requested. The memorandum also reaffirmed the Department of State’s belief that the Iranian Government could survive its budget difficulties without U.S. budgetary assistance through a variety of “unpleasant measures.” (Department of State, Central Files, 611.88/7–2762) On August 2, the Department of State transmitted the revised text of the letter, as printed here, to the Embassy in Tehran in telegram 97. (Ibid., 788.11/8-262)

12. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, August 3, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.68/8-362. Secret. Drafted by Barrow on August 1.

13. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant (O’Donnell)

Washington, August 6, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786A.11/8-662. Confidential. Drafted by Seelye on August 2 and cleared by King, Talbot, Ludlow, and Strong. Sent through Bundy at the White House.

14. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Washington, August 7, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.84A/8-762. Secret. Drafted by Strong. An earlier draft of this memorandum, dated July 16, is attached to the source text. A memorandum from Talbot to Rusk through McGhee, July 26, indicates that changes were made in the original draft of the Israeli package to reflect “a meeting of the minds between NEA and Messrs. Bundy, Feldman and Komer of the White House staff.” Among other points, the revised version contained “a more positive approach to sale of the Hawk to Israel and an offer of the Hawk to the United Arab Republic (acceptance doubtful) on the same terms as any offer to Israel.” (Ibid., 611.84A/7–2662) An August 3 note from Talbot to Rusk indicates that additional changes were made in accordance with suggestions from Rusk on July 31. (Ibid., 611.84A/8-2762)

15. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Washington, August 7, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 886.411/8-762. Secret. Drafted by Crawford on August 2.

16. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, August 9, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 886.411/8-962. Secret. Drafted by Crawford and cleared by Buffum, Strong, and Talbot.

17. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman)

Washington, August 9, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Israel, 8/10/62–8/16/62. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Crawford.

18. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman) to President Kennedy

Washington, August 10, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Israel, Vol. I, 8/10/62–8/16/62. Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text. A handwritten notation on the source text reads: “this memo & 2 tabs sent 8/11/62 for Pres. wkend reading.”

19. Notes of Conference

Washington, August 14, 1962, 4:45–5:35 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86B/8-1562. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Robert C. Strong. The time of the meeting is from the President’s Appointment Book. (Kennedy Library) The source text is attached to an August 15 memorandum from Dutton to Talbot on the policy of direct negotiations between Israel and the Arabs. An unsigned typed note, dated August 14, presumably prepared in advance of this meeting, reads: “We’ll have to march to get through them all. 1. Should we back Johnson Plan (Joe Johnson will speak)? 2. Should we make an effort to get tacit UAR/Israel arms limitations before selling Hawks to Israel? Timing? 3. Should we sell Hawks to Israel if above fails? If so, what timing? 4. Should we challenge Israel’s claim to sovereignty over Lake Tiberias? Privately or publicly? Timing? 5. Should we send Presidential emissaries to Israel and UAR.” (Ibid., National Security Files, Countries Series, Israel, 8/10/62–8/16/62)

20. Notes of Meeting

Washington, August 14, 1962, 5:30 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86B/8-1562. Secret. There is no drafting information on the source text, but presumably it was prepared by Robert C. Strong. It is attached to an August 15 memorandum from Dutton to Talbot (see the source note, Document 19). This meeting was a continuation of the one recorded in Document 19, which the President left at 5:35 p.m.