Near East, 1962–1963


61. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kaysen)

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Palestine, Refugees, 8/62–9/62, Vol. II. Secret. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “(Taken from Pres. week-end reading dtd 9/29)”


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/9-3062. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Crawford and Grant. Handwritten notes on the source text indicate that Secretary Rusk was given the original and that a copy was sent to Ambassador Stevenson.


63. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files 786H.00/10-162. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Jidda and London.


64. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman) to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Staff Memoranda, Feldman, Myer, 1962. No classification marking.


65. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Palestine, Refugees, Vol. II, 10/62–11/62. Secret. Kaysen forwarded this memorandum to the President under cover of a note that reads: “You may be getting a memorandum from the Secretary of State requesting guidance on what probable position we should take on the Johnson Plan. The attached from Bob Komer summarizes the situation, which hasn’t changed in the last few days.”


66. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-362. Secret. Drafted by Seelye on October 10.


67. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/10-462. Secret; Limit Distribution..


68. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Saudi Arabia, 10/62. Secret. A handwritten note on the source text reads: “(Ret’d frm Mrs. Lincoln 10/4)”


69. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-562. Confidential. Drafted by Killgore, concurred in by Glidden (INR), and cleared by Grant and Bergeson (EUR/BNA).


70. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, United Arab Republic, 9/62–12/62. Secret.


71. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786A.11/10-562. Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text, but the memorandum was approved by the White House on October 19 and in G on November 7. The conversation was held during a working luncheon at the White House. The Department of State transmitted a supplemental briefing paper for Kennedy’s meeting with Faysal in a memorandum from Brubeck to Bundy, October 4. (Ibid., 786A.00/10-462)


72. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.5486B10-562. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Barrow, cleared by Killgore, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Amman, Jidda, and London.


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-662. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Cairo, Jidda, London, Paris, Baghdad, USUN, Damascus, Taiz, Aden, Beirut, Jerusalem, and Paris for CINCEUR.


74. Draft Memorandum From the Office of National Estimates, Central Intelligence Agency, to Director of Central Intelligence McCone

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Yemen, 10/1/62–10/8/62. Secret. Komer transmitted this memorandum to Bundy under cover of a note that reads: “An interesting piece, perhaps largely because it comes out about where I do myself. We’re going to be under more and more pressure to recognize new Yemeni regime. But I hope we’ll keep cool a bit longer. Let’s wait till it becomes clear to Saud and Hussein that they’re losing, so they won’t blame it on US recognition.”


75. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Palestine, Refugees, Vol. II, 10/62–11/62. Secret. Copies were sent to Feldman and Kaysen. A transmittal memorandum from Komer to Bundy reads: “This is largely for Mike’s benefit. I’ve asked State to keep us clued on its tactical plan; because of President’s continuing interest (and fact he keeps getting Mike’s views anyway). This hand isn’t played out yet; I’m trying to keep close tabs on it.”


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

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-962. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong and Seelye. A handwritten note on the source text indicates the memorandum was seen by Secretary Rusk on October 10.


77. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-1062. Secret; Priority; Limited Distribution. Repeated to London, Jidda, Amman, Taiz, and USUN.


78. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-1162. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Seelye, cleared by Strong, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Cairo, Jidda, and Taiz.


79. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer. Secret. Copies were sent to Bundy, Kaysen, and Grant.


80. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-1062. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong and Barrow, cleared by Rusk, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to London, Jidda, and Amman.


81. Paper by the Officer in Charge of Arabian Peninsula Affairs (Seelye)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.02/10-1762. Secret. Transmitted to Bundy under cover of a memorandum from Brubeck that reads: “In response to the White House request, there is enclosed a statement of our position on recognition of the Yemen Arab Republic.”


82. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786H.00/10-1862. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated to London, Jidda, and Amman.


83. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86H/10-1962. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Seelye on October 18, cleared by Strong, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to London and Cairo.


84. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/10-2062. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford on October 18 and cleared by Sisco, Strong, and Talbot.


85. Paper by Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff

Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries, Iran 11/1/62–11/30/62. Secret. Komer sent this paper to Bundy under cover of a memorandum that reads: “Here are the thoughts on Iran which I’ve been firming up for months. The paper is mine alone, though I’ve talked discreetly around with Polk, Hansen, and a few senior Agency types (latter only to explore whether any new faces on horizon). Nonetheless I think that it roughly approximates the consensus of those around town who, like myself, see our present Iran policy as inadequate to the need but find it too pat to say let’s back another horse than Pahlavi (when we don’t see one running yet). We all agree that the US must do more than it’s doing, but are leery of such radical solutions as pressing for a Majlis or backing the National Front, with the Shah relegated to figurehead status or replaced by a regency. We stick with realpolitik. Am sending copies to Bobby [Kennedy?] (to counter flak he’s getting from the Douglasites—he charged me again the other day) and Ralph Dungan. Next move is yours.”


86. Telegram From the Department of State to the Legation in Yemen

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86H/10-2262. Secret. Drafted by Seelye, cleared by Strong, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, Jidda, London, and Aden.


87. Circular Airgram From the Department of State to Certain Posts

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 884A.1901/10-3162. Confidential. Drafted by Crawford on October 24; cleared by Strong, Thomas (DOD/ISA), Burdett, Newsom, and Herron (P); and approved by Talbot. Sent to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Jidda, and Oslo and repeated to Algiers, Bonn, Cairo, Khartoum, London (by pouch), Ottawa (by pouch), Paris, Rabat, Rome, Taiz, Tel Aviv, Tripoli, and Tunis.


88. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia

Source: Department of State. Central Files, 786A.11/10-2562. Confidential. Drafted by Seelye on November 1; cleared by Strong, Kaysen, and Little; and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Cairo, London, and Amman.


90. Memorandum for the Record

Source: Department of State, Special Group, Counterinsurgency Files: Lot 68 D 451, Minutes of Meetings, November 5, 1962. Secret.