202. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy0
Visit of Ed Mason to the UAR
Despite your hesitations about our policy toward the UAR, I believe that Ed Mason’s brief, exploratory visit will be a useful follow-on [Page 501] to Bowles probe. His trip as a planning consultant is another step in our effort to turn the UAR inward toward greater focus on its own domestic problems instead of constant meddling in the other Arab states and Africa. When we told Nasser via a personal message from you that Mason is coming and that we expect him to be given every facility, Nasser’s reception was cordial.
Before talking with Mason, you should read Chester Bowles’ long despatch on his Cairo visit1 which strongly endorses sending Mason as part of our long-term policy toward the UAR. Bowles also comes down in favor of an invitation to Nasser this April, but the State Department has since decided against so proposing, although leaving open the possibility of a visit toward the end of the year.
Though Mason’s visit commits us to nothing, it will inevitably stimulate UAR desires for, and expectations of, further US aid. I think you will want to caution Mason not to indicate in any manner the likeliHood of further US commitments beyond those already made (e.g. multi-year PL-480). Instead you might want to suggest he emphasize that US aid to the UAR will depend upon our evaluation of Nasser’s policies about which we have many reservations.
- Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries, United Arab Republic, Security—1962. Secret.↩
- Document 195.↩