405. Memorandum of telephone conversation between McGeorge Bundy and Ball, October 251

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Bundy—The President has now seen your exact text and he points out that the first clause of paragraph three: “In order to give the parties time” may look as if we were willing to accept a pause at this stage, which we are really not, unless we have a whole lot more in it. Can’t we just leave that out?

Ball—Sure.

Bundy—“In your statement you have made, your message makes certain suggestions, you have invited preliminary talks and I’ve been” perhaps those two paragraphs could be collapsed together.

Ball—Right.

  1. Changes in draft message to U Thant. No classification marking. 1 p. DOS, Ball Papers: Lot 74 D 272, Telcons—Cuba.