657. Memorandum of telephone conversation between McNamara and Ball, April 191
McNamara—George, I feel so strongly on this low level that I just wanted to say that I feel I must go to the President on it.
Ball—We are holding in that course.
McNamara—I thought you were.
[Typeset Page 1683]Ball—I think this is a problem which has got to be resolved between you and Dean and the President and possibly McCone. I hated to get all those people—
McNamara—That’s why I didn’t want to speak up on it either.
Ball—That’s why I was taking the view let’s not decide it now.
McNamara—The reason for my call is to say that unless one of two conditions is present, I am opposed to it. One of the conditions would be that we think something might be happening there that has some true military significance in the sense that it would effect our military planning. The second condition would be that even if the first condition weren’t present, that there would be no price that we would be paying for the low level in its effect on our Soviet relationship.
Ball—Right.
McNamara—I can’t see the second condition being met.
Ball—I can’t either.
McNamara—I’m not aware of any situation that fits the first requirement.
Ball—That’s right. The only thing that seemed to us really worth any of the risks of looking at were the underground installations and John put those lower on the priority list than these camps.
[Facsimile Page 2]McNamara—I am not even familiar with underground installations.
Ball—They are just storage facilities. They look as though they are for cruise missiles. I agree with you entirely. This was a little ploy on my part not to get into a full-fledged discussion.
McNamara—I was sure that’s what it was. I just wanted you to know the way I feel about it, and I assumed State felt this way, and I fully support State on it. I think—as you could tell in the later discussion—that we have got to be careful what we do with low level to be certain it doesn’t cross one of these other tracks.
Ball—That’s exactly right.
McNamara—I can’t conceive of low level under present circumstances strengthening our relations with the Soviets. So the probability is there’s a real price to pay. Well, may I leave it in your hands to, at some point, get Dean and me together on it.
Ball—Yes.
McNamara—Or, if he’s gone, you and I can get together and talk to the President.
Ball—Fine. Dean is going the end of the week.
McNamara—All right, there’ll be time this week.
- Low-level reconnaissance missions over Cuba. No classification marking. 2 pp. Kennedy Library, Ball Papers, Telephone Conversations, Cuba.↩