342. Letter From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Williams) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Hare)0
Dear Mr. Hare: In your letter of May 12, 19601 you requested an indication of the position of the Department of Defense as to whether a military requirement for the Dhahran Airfield facilities will exist after 1962 and the significance, from a national security standpoint, of the retention of these facilities.
The views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were requested in this matter. In their reply, the Joint Chiefs have advised that, although Dhahran Airfield is no longer required as a primary installation for Strategic Air Command operations, utilization of an airfield in the Middle East area by U.S. forces is considered essential in meeting Middle East logistic support requirements now and after 1962. In the circumstances, the Joint Chiefs have recommended that renewal of the Dhahran Agreement should be sought, if feasible, on more liberal terms than presently exist with respect to the types of military operations allowed at the airfield, or in any event under the most favorable terms possible.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have indicated that if Dhahran Airfield cannot be retained after 1962, alternate facilities will be required elsewhere in the Middle East. With this contingency in mind, we have asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff for their advice as to specific locations which could satisfy their requirements.
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786A.56311/10–1360. Secret. A note by Eilts on this letter indicates that on October 20 he drafted a reply, but on November 15 he determined that no reply was necessary.↩
- A copy of the May 12 letter to Irwin is attached to another copy of this letter from Williams, ibid., NEA/NE Files: Lot 63 D 89, Saudi Arabia, Military Assistance, 1960 General.↩