375. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Solbert) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Taylor)0
SUBJECT
- Near East Arms Policy1
The Department of State has prepared a proposed Memorandum for the President (Enclosure 1)2 bearing on the above subject. The basic conclusion of the State paper is that the traditional U.S. policy of restraint regarding arms sales to the Near East states is valid and should be reaffirmed.
We believe that the situation in the Near East has changed sufficiently since our original policy was enunciated to warrant review of U.S. arms policy in the area and the State paper thereon. Accordingly, this office has prepared a counter draft to State’s paper which is attached at Enclosure 2.3 It is our tentative judgment that this draft more accurately reflects, among other things, the policy implications inherent in (a) continued Soviet/Bloc military aid to the area, particularly to the UAR, (b) the development of the UAR’s strategic capability in terms of missiles and aircraft, and (c) an apparent increase in the tempo of Western European arms being introduced into the area.
In connection with points (a) and (b) preceding, the Government of Israel sought to demonstrate, in talks held at the Department of State on 12 and 13 November, that an imbalance in military capabilities, particularly as between the UAR and Israel, is developing into a serious threat to Israel’s security. A summary of these discussions, which is at Enclosure 3, bears on the overall question of U.S. policy in the area, as the Israelis obviously hope to compensate for what they regard as an arms imbalance in the UAR’s favor by securing their materiel requirements from the U.S. Specifically, they have asked for agreement to purchase from 400 to 500 M-48 type medium tanks in an “as is” condition and have served notice of an intention to seek additional naval equipment and perhaps surface-to-surface missiles and additional aircraft, if not from U.S. then perhaps from European sources (i.e., France).
[Page 819]The Department of State considers it important to provide appropriate recommendations on U.S. arms policy for the Near East to President Johnson as soon as possible. Accordingly, the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are requested on the foregoing by 6 December 1963.
- Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 69 A 3131, Near East, 1963. Secret.↩
- Additional documentation is in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Records, 1963 Files, 9180/9105 (2 December 63), Sec 2.↩
- Enclosure 1 is an undated draft memorandum from Rusk to Johnson; for text, see the Supplement, the regional compilation.↩
- Enclosure 2 is an undated, unsigned memorandum; for text, see ibid.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Solbert signed the original.↩