Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIX, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1967

165. Minutes of the Tenth Meeting of the Middle East Control Group¹

Washington, June 5, 1967, 5 p.m.

Decisions

I. Policy on Arms Shipments and Economic Aid

It was agreed:

1. Arms Shipments

a. The subject of arms shipments should be kept under constant review by the Control Group.

b. For the time-being, end items which have left the depots should be permitted to proceed.

c. The possible supply of A4Es and a Hawk battery to Israel will remain under review.

d. Press guidance should be formulated indicating that (1) arms shipments are being carefully reviewed and (2) end items which have left the depots are being permitted to proceed.²

2. Arms Negotiations

a. Negotiations of arms agreements with Morocco, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Iran should be delayed for at least the next 48 hours.

b. Henry Kuss would be instructed not to sign new agreements with NE countries without specific authorization.

3. Food Assistance

a. PL–480 food shipments should not be halted.

b. Practical delivery problems to the immediate area of the conflict will probably foreclose shipments until peace is restored.

4. Economic Aid

a. Shipments of end items for on-going projects should continue.

b. No new project agreements should be concluded until the legal ramifications of the conflict are clarified and a policy decision to proceed has been made. Instructions to this effect should be sent to pertinent posts.

II. Instructions to US Carriers

It was agreed:

1. The question of issuing instructions to US carriers operating into the Near East is to be carefully staffed-out and a report submitted to the Control Group.

2. The FAA should be requested to permit the five chartered Flying Tiger flights to proceed with military end items for Israel. In view of the dangers to direct flights into Israel, the material should be off-loaded at an agreed trans-shipment point; such as Rome.

III. Evacuation Plans

It was agreed:

1. Existing instructions to posts should be carefully reviewed and up-dated as necessary.

2. The Task Force should review the evacuation problem in each Near East Country and submit specific recommendations to the Control Group in respect to each.

IV. UN Situation and Outlook

Having received a report on the situation and outlook in the UN,

It was agreed:

The Task Force should submit tomorrow preliminary proposals for a ceasefire and peace settlement. The assistance of Julius Holmes should be sought.

V. Maritime Declaration

It was agreed:

1. Consultations should continue with appropriate governments about the problem addressed by the Maritime Declaration.

2. A current assessment of the number of governments prepared to endorse a Maritime Declaration under the changed conditions which now prevail should be submitted to the Control Group.³

VI. Evacuation of UNEF and UNRWA from Gaza

While noting the request of the Brazilian Embassy for assistance in evacuating the Brazilian UNEF contingent, it was agreed that the responsibility for this unit rests with the UN. The matter is to be referred to the Secretary General by IO.

VII. Miscellaneous

It was agreed:

1. The Task Force assisted by CIA should submit to the Control Group an assessment of Israeli military and political objectives, noting that they may be extensive.

2. An assessment of the Wheelus Field situation is to be prepared by lSA and submitted to the Control Group.

VIII. Contingency Planning for Viet-Nam Fuel Requirements

Mr. Vance informed the Control Group that contingency contacts for fuel supplies for Viet-Nam will be signed in a few days. In view of the difficulty in obtaining storage facilities in Taiwan and Japan, additional tankers will have to be reserved under charter.

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Office of the Executive Secretariat, Middle East Crisis Files, 1967, Entry 5190, Box 17, Minutes/Decisions of the Control Group, Folder 1. Secret; Nodis. No drafter nor participants are listed in the minutes. A memorandum of the meeting by Hoopes is in Washington National Records Center, RG 330, ISA Files: FRC 76–140, A/I/S, 2–12–6, 1967 Crisis Special File.
2. At its June 6 meeting, the Control Group adopted the following guidelines for arms shipments to Near East countries with which the United States had diplomatic relations: arms shipments under government-to-government agreements, grant or sale, that had left the depots would not be impeded; existing Munitions Control licenses would be reviewed; all new government-to-government requests and all new requests to Munitions Control would be subject to careful review; and the Israeli request for 143 used half-track personnel carriers, 25 A4Es, and a Hawk battery would remain under review. No new licenses were to be issued and shipments under approved licenses were to be blocked to countries that had broken relations with the United States. (Minutes of eleventh Control Group meeting; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Office of the Executive Secretariat, Middle East Crisis Files, 1967, Entry 5190, Box 17, Minutes/Decisions of the Control Group, Folder 1)
3. At its June 6 meeting the Control Group decided to suspend operations pertaining to the Maritime Declaration. (Ibid.)