Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

380. National Security Action Memorandum No. 237¹

Washington, May 3, 1963.

TO

• The Secretary of State
• The Secretary of Defense
• The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

• Project Mercury Manned Space Flight (MA-9)

The President is aware of the contingency planning with respect to the possibility of the landing of Mercury 9 or future Gemini flights in the territorial waters of Communist China, North Vietnam, or Cuba, as described in the letter dated May 1, 1963, from the Deputy Under Secretary of State to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

The President agrees that the Secretary of Defense has adequate authority to authorize the penetration of the territorial waters of the above countries for the purpose of locating, rendering assistance to, and retrieving the personnel and spacecrafts.

McGeorge Bundy

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 237. Secret. Copies were sent to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget and the Administrator of NASA.