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

264. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Smith) to President Johnson ¹

Washington, June 11, 1967, 5:30 p.m.

Mr. President:

Mac Bundy called from New York² to ask that the following report be sent to you upon your return here:

1. Bundy will see Ambassador Goldberg this evening from 8 to 9:30 to review the problems we face in the UN this week.

2. Bundy talked by phone today with Secretary Rusk, Secretary McNamara, Ambassador Goldberg and both Rostows.

3. A first priority action is to persuade the Israeli Government to make the most moderate public statement of their position that they can. Secretary Rusk will talk to Ambassador Harman about this.

4. Bundy believes the line we should hold to for the next few days is “let’s have peace.” He says now is not the time for new policy statements. He opposes those officers in the State Department who want to underline the territorial integrity clause of the May 23 statement. Old boundaries cannot be restored.

5. Bundy believes we should promptly resume conversations with the Soviets by having Ambassador Thompson talk fully but quietly with Dobrynin who is expected in Washington this week.

6. Bundy will be in Washington in mid-afternoon tomorrow. The Situation Room knows how to reach him at any time.

Bromley Smith

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Middle East Crisis, Vol. V. Confidential. A handwritten “L” on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.
2. Notes of Bundy’s telephone conversation with Rusk are in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Calls.