Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1964–1967
31. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, AE 11–2 ISR. Secret; Limdis. Drafted at the White House; cleared by Davies, Harriman, and McGeorge Bundy; and approved by McKesson. A March 14 memorandum from Komer to the President states that he had “greatly toned down State’s rather abrasive draft” of the letter to Eshkol. Bundy initialed the President’s approval on Komer’s memorandum and sent the revised draft to Benjamin Read with an attached note of March 19 stating that it was approved by the President. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, Israel, Presidential Correspondence)
32. National Security Action Memorandum No. 290
Source: National Archives and Records Administration,RG 59, NSAM Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 290. Secret.
33. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Vol. I. Secret.
34. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL ARAB–US. Secret; Nodis. An attached note of March 25 from Read to Rusk suggested sending copies to the White House, U. Alexis Johnson, and Jernegan. Rusk initialed his approval.
35. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 80–B01285A, DCI (McCone) Files, Box 6, Folder 7, DCI Meetings with the President, Jan.-Apr. 1964. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by McCone.
36. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL ISR–US. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Passed to the White House.
37. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL ISR–US. Secret; Exdis.
38. National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–R01012A,ODDI Registry of NIE and SNIE Files. Secret; Controlled Dissem. According to a note on the cover sheet, the estimate was submitted by the Director of Central Intelligence, and concurred in by the U.S. Intelligence Board on April 8. The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, AEC, and NSA participated in its preparation. The State, Defense,AEC, and NSA representatives concurred; the FBI representative abstained, the subject being outside his jurisdiction. A table of contents is not printed. Paragraph references are to the Discussion portion of the estimate, not printed here.
39. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Visit of King Hussein, 4/14–15/64 (II). Secret. Drafted by Davies on April 15 and approved by U on April 27 and by the White House on May 4. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the President met privately with King Hussein from 12:05 to 12:15 p.m. in the Oval Office followed by a 15-minute session with the press for photographs. The meeting recorded here took place in the Cabinet Room from 12:30 to 1:06 p.m. (Ibid.) An April 10 briefing memorandum from Ball to the President is ibid., National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Visit of King Hussein, (II). An April 13 briefing memorandum from Komer and Bundy to the President is ibid., 4/14–15/64 (I). Other records pertaining to the King’s visit are in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 15–1 JORDAN and POL 7 JORDAN, and ibid., Conference Files: Lot 66 D 110, CF 2385–2386.
40. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 77 A 75, Memos of Conversation Between Sec. McNamara and Heads of State (other than NATO). Confidential. Copies were sent to Solbert, Director of Military Assistance General Wood, Sloan, Rowen, Henry J. Kuss, Jr., and Strickland. The meeting was held at Blair House.
41. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Visit of King Hussein, 4/14–15/64 (II). Confidential. Drafted by Ambassador Barnes on April 22 and approved by U on April 29 and by White House on May 4. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting was held in the President’s office from 4:33 to 5:25 p.m. (Ibid.)
42. Special National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–R01012A,ODDI Registry of NIE and SNIE Files. Secret; Controlled Dissem (Background Use Only). According to a note on the cover sheet, the estimate was submitted by the Director of Central Intelligence, and concurred in by the U.S. Intelligence Board on April 15. The Central Intelligence Agency, the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, and NSA participated in its preparation. The State, Defense, and NSA representatives concurred; the AEC and FBI representatives abstained, the subject being outside their jurisdiction. Paragraph references are to the Discussion portion of the estimate, not printed here.
43. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, Israel, PM Eshkol Correspondence. Secret.
44. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 JORDAN. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Ambassador Barnes on April 22 and approved in S/S on April 29. The meeting was held in Ambassador Stevenson’s apartment.
45. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 1 UAR-US. Secret. Drafted by Talbot, Davies, Duncan, and Curtis F. Jones and concurred in by Rostow. Sent through Harriman, and Macomber (AID/NESA) was informed.
46. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 33–1 JORDAN RIVER. Confidential; Limdis. Drafted by Heywood H. Stackhouse; cleared by Macomber, Donald A. Wehmeyer, and in draft by Davies; and approved by Jernegan. Also sent to Amman and Tel Aviv and repeated to USUN.
47. Memorandum for the Standing Group
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSAM File, NSAM 290. Secret. Filed with a covering memorandum of April 27 from Read to McGeorge Bundy. Another copy shows that the memorandum was signed by Harriman for the Department of State and sent to Deputy Secretary of Defense Cyrus Vance, who signed on April 25. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 70 A 1266, Israel 470)
48. Memorandum by the Board of National Estimates
[Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–R01012A, ODDI Registry of NIE and SNIE Files. Secret; Controlled Dissem. 2 pages of source text not declassified.]
49. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Tanks, Vol. I. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Jernegan.
50. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 US/McCLOY. Top Secret. Drafted by Davies and Dickman; cleared by Walt Rostow, Harriman (by telephone), Foster, U. Alexis Johnson, and McGeorge Bundy; and approved by Talbot.
51. Special National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–R01012A, ODDI Registry of NIE and SNIE Files. Secret; Controlled Dissem. A table of contents is not printed. According to a note on the cover sheet, the estimate was submitted by the Director of Central Intelligence, and concurred in by the U.S. Intelligence Board on May 6. The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, and NSA participated in its preparation. The State, Defense, and NSA representatives concurred; the AEC and FBI representatives abstained, the subject being outside their jurisdiction. Paragraph references are to the Discussion portion of the estimate, not printed here.
52. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 US/McCLOY. Top Secret; Exdis.
53. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Tanks, Vol. I. No classification marking. A handwritten “L” on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. A handwritten note by Walter Jenkins reads: “Mac—President says pls talk to Feldman and LBJ about this.” In a May 13 telephone conversation, Bundy asked Johnson’s approval to have Senator Abraham Ribicoff and New York banker Abraham Feinberg tell Ambassador Harman and any Jewish leader they thought necessary that public discussion of the question of tanks for Israel would be counterproductive. It would “make life tough for our British friends,” Bundy commented, if it looked “as if we were passing the buck to them.” He told Johnson that he was with Ribicoff, who was willing “to try and keep things buttoned up” if Johnson wanted. Johnson approved, saying, “I want him to stop everybody that’s talking about it.” (Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between Johnson and Bundy, May 13, 1964, 3:35 p.m., Tape F64.26, Side B, PNO 7)
54. Research Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Denney) to Acting Secretary of State Ball
Source: Department of State,NEA/IAI Files: Lot 69 D 492, POL 3/2, Palestine Entity. Secret; No Foreign Dissem.
55. Memorandum From President Johnson to His Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Tanks, Vol. I. Secret. Drafts of this memorandum entitled “Feldman Talking Paper, “dated May 13 and 14, apparently drafted by Komer, are ibid. The memorandum was sent to Johnson with a May 15 covering memorandum from Komer, which states, “It tells Mike exactly what we want him to say, so he won’t stray off the reservation.” (Ibid.) A copy filed with a May 19 covering memorandum from Bromley Smith to Rusk, McNamara, and JCS Chairman Taylor states that the instruction, as amended by Rusk, was approved by the President on May 16. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 70 A 1266, Israel 470) See Document 57.
56. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McNaughton) to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 70 A 1266, Israel 470 Secret; Eyes Only. A stamped notation on the memorandum states that McNamara saw it on May 16.
57. Memorandum for Record
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of McGeorge Bundy, Memorandum of Meetings with the President, Vol. I. Secret. Drafted on May 18. Bundy wrote at the top: “No dis. McGB.”
58. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Israel, Tanks, Vol. I. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Palmer on May 18.
59. Letter From President Johnson to President Nasser
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, UAR, Nasser Correspondence, Vol. I. Top Secret. A draft of this letter was transmitted to Cairo in telegram 5140, May 3, and given to Nasser by Badeau on May 7, as reported in telegram 2632, Document 52. The letter was sent to Johnson for signature with a May 19 memorandum from Komer, noting that Nasser had said he would give assurances as to UAR intentions to refrain from acquiring nuclear weapons. Komer wrote that although Nasser had not indicated whether he would do so privately or publicly, his statement was sufficiently promising to fulfill Badeau’s request for an official copy of the letter “to smoke out Nasser.” A note in Bundy’s handwriting on Komer’s memorandum stated that he and Rusk strongly concurred. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, UAR, Nasser Correspondence, Vol. I)
60. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Arab Republic, Vol. I. Secret. Drafted by Davies. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the meeting was held at the White House from 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., and Ambassador Kamel was accompanied by Jernegan. (Ibid.)