Office of the Historian

Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1967–1968

181. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow)

Washington, May 27, 1968.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. IX, Cables and Memos, 3/68–5/68. Secret;Exdis.

182. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Battle) to Secretary of State Rusk

Washington, May 29, 1968.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. IX, Cables and Memos, 3/68–5/68. Secret. Drafted by Brewer and cleared by Atherton, Deputy Director of the Office of Fuels and Energy James E. Atkins, and Davies. Saunders sent an advance copy of this memorandum to Walt Rostow on May 24 under cover of a note that reads in part: “Here’s Bill Brewer’s speculation on what the Israelis are up to on Tiran island.” (Ibid.)

183. Telegram From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson in Texas

Washington, May 31, 1968, 2300Z.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Vol. V, Memos, 3/68–1/69. Secret; Nodis.

184. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Lebanon

Washington, June 4, 1968, 0042Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 LEB. Secret. Drafted by Houghton on June 3, cleared by Battle and Special Assistant to the Secretary of State Harry W. Shlaudeman, and approved by John P. Walsh in S/S. Also sent to Jerusalem, Amman, Tel Aviv, London, and USUN.

185. Memorandum of Conversation

Washington, June 4, 1968.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. X, Cables and Memos, 6/68–11/68. Secret;Nodis. Drafted by Atherton.

187. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Helms to President Johnson

Washington, June 4, 1968.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 80-B01285A, DCI (Helms) Files, Chrono 1 Jan.-31 Jul. 1968. Secret; Eyes Only. A copy was sent to Secretary Rusk.

188. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan

Washington, June 4, 1968, 2027Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 ARAB-ISR. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Houghton and Davies on May 31; cleared by Atherton, Popper, Handley, Katzenbach, and Walt Rostow; and approved by Rusk. Repeated to USUN. A record of a June 4 luncheon meeting with the President indicates that President Johnson also cleared the message. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of Walt W. Rostow, Meetings with the President, May-June 1968)

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

Washington, June 6, 1968, 1959Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL ISR-US. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Atherton, cleared by Battle and Sisco, and approved by Eugene Rostow. Repeated to USUN.

190. Message From Foreign Secretary Stewart to Secretary of State Rusk

London, June 10, 1968.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 ARAB-ISR/UN. Confidential. Transmitted to the Department by British Ambassador Patrick Dean.

191. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow)

Washington, June 14, 1968.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Middle East, Vol. II, 4/68–1/69. Secret; Nodis.

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

Washington, June 15, 1968, 1755Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 32-1 ISR-LEB. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Houghton; cleared by Day, Popper, and James H. Bahti; and approved by Handley. Also sent to Beirut, and repeated to London, Amman, Jerusalem, USUN, and CINCSTRIKE.

193. Telegram From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson in Texas

Washington, June 16, 1968, 1421Z.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Arab Republic, Vol. VII, Cables and Memos, 6/68–1/69. Secret; Sensitive.

194. Memorandum of Conversation

Washington, June 17, 1968.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. X, Cables and Memos, 6/68–11/68. Secret;Nodis.

195. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Israel and Jordan

Washington, June 19, 1968, 2304Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 ARAB-ISR. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Bahti, cleared by Houghton and Atherton, and approved by Battle. Repeated to Jerusalem, London, Beirut, and USUN.

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

Washington, June 20, 1968.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 12-5 ISR. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by George B. Lambrakis and Senior Research Officer Susan T. Tait in the Office of Research and Analysis for Near East and South Asia in INR; cleared by Atherton, and in draft by Austin.

197. Information Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Washington, June 21, 1968, 7 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Middle East, Vol. II, 4/68–1/69. Secret; Nodis.

198. Memorandum of Conversation

Reykjavik, June 23, 1968, 4:30 p.m.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Conference Files: Lot 69 D 182, CF 300. Secret. Drafted by Deputy Director of the Office of NATO and Atlantic Political-Military Affairs John I. Getz, and approved in S on June 24. The meeting was held at the Embassy in Reykjavik, where Secretary Rusk headed the U.S. Delegation to the North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting June 24–25.

199. Notes of Meeting

Washington, June 25, 1968, 1:20–2:35 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings, June 25, 1968–1:20 p.m.-Tuesday luncheon. Top Secret. Drafted by Tom Johnson.

200. Information Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Washington, June 27, 1968, 7:45 p.m.

[Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Vol. V, Memos, 3/68–1/69. Secret. 4 pages (including 3-page attachment) of source text not declassified.]

201. Action Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Washington, June 28, 1968, 10:30 a.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. X, Cables and Memos, 6/68–11/68. Secret.

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

Washington, June 28, 1968, 2338Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27-14 ARAB-ISR. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Sisco and Atherton; cleared by Battle, Day, Davies, and Eugene Rostow; and approved by Katzenbach. Repeated to USUN.

203. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Sisco) to Secretary of State Rusk

Washington, June 28, 1968.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27-14 ARAB-ISR. Secret; Nodis. Copies were sent to Katzenbach and Battle. Rusk initialed the memorandum to indicate that he had read it.

204. Information Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Washington, June 29, 1968, 1:10 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Vol. V, Memos, 9/68–1/69. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. A handwritten notation indicates that the memorandum was received at 1:20 p.m.

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

Tel Aviv, July 2, 1968, 0921Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 18-6. Secret; Limdis.

206. Action Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson

Washington, July 2, 1968, 3 p.m.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Subject File, Desalting Projects, Vol. II. Confidential. A handwritten notation indicates that the memorandum was received at 3:15 p.m.

207. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

Washington, July 4, 1968, 0020Z.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 ARAB-ISR. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Day, cleared by Acting Country Director for Soviet Union Affairs Adolph Dubs and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Malcolm Toon, and approved by Eugene Rostow. Repeated to USUN, Tel Aviv, London, Amman, and Cairo.

208. Telegram From Bromley Smith of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson in Texas

Washington, July 4, 1968, 1834Z.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. X, Cables and Memos, 6/68–11/68. Secret. Repeated to Walt Rostow at the LBJ Ranch.

209. Telegram From Bromley Smith of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson in Texas

Washington, July 4, 1968, 1851Z.

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Arab Republic, Vol. VII, Cables and Memos, 6/68–1/69. Secret. Repeated to Walt Rostow at the LBJ Ranch.

210. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Warnke) to Secretary of Defense Clifford

Washington, July 6, 1968.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 72 A 1499, 452.1 Israel. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Murray in NESA.