Office of the Historian

282. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security. Affairs (Bundy)0

Washington, July 30, 1962.

McGB:

As you may know, Subandrio has urged the President personally write Sukarno asking that, as a great leader for peace, Sukarno accept the new compromise WNG package. Subandrio is apparently nervous that he may be in the doghouse; Ed Rice feels that he exceeded his instructions, and wants something to help him justify doing so.

Painful as it may be, I think we should send this reinforcing plea. Anything which would increase the chances of Sukarno’s buying is worth the effort.

State has a draft which should be over shortly (if Rusk approves).1 It is a flowery appeal to Sukarno’s ego, designed to put him in a good mood. If we send him a stiff letter, he may beat up Subandrio instead.

Meanwhile, the talks in Middleburg went well today. We may be on the verge of an agreed package. Though this isn’t the end, it would be another major hurdle to overcome, and worth the price.

RWK
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memos, Komer, 7/62. Secret.↩
  2. The letter was approved by Rusk and sent in telegram 121 to Djakarta, July 30, 9:17 p.m. (Ibid., Countries Series, West New Guinea, General, 7/27/62–7/31 /62)↩