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

288. Memorandum for the Record¹

Washington, June 14, 1967, 6:30 p.m.

SUBJECT

• Minutes, NSC Special Committee, 6:30 p.m., 14 June in the Cabinet Room

1. The Committee approved the “Restatement of Current U.S. Arms Supply Policy to the Middle East” (attached) with the two following changes:

(a) At the end of paragraph 4 add: “Any further approvals or shipments will require the prior approval of the Secretaries of State and Defense.”

(b) In the footnote on page two, amend line 5 to read: “… this policy, if unmodified over the next several months, would block shipment of the Israeli arms package approved…”

In discussing this item, the Committee (a) noted the importance of not appearing to renege on recent commitments, and (b) agreed specifically that we should not for the moment consider Israel’s new requests for A–4 aircraft, M–60 tanks and Hawk missiles.

2. The President approved immediate shipment of 5500 tents to Jordan.

3. The President approved on a contingency basis going ahead with emergency water drops for stragglers in Sinai if the International Red Cross accepts our offer of help and the Israeli government approves.²

4. The President rejected a proposal to raise the ban on tourist travel to the crisis area.

McGeorge Bundy ³

Attachment

Washington, June 14, 1967.

SUBJECT

• Restatement of Current US Arms Supply Policy to the Middle East

The Control Group wishes to restate the present arms supply policy, in order to assure its full understanding by all concerned.

1. All shipments of military equipment to those states which have broken diplomatic relations with us have been suspended as of June 8. With respect to government-to-government agreements (grant aid and credit sales under the Military Assistance Program), this has involved stopping shipments at depots, manufacturers’ facilities, and other sources; it has also involved efforts to repossess shipments at the port or enroute, to the extent such shipments are still within US control. With respect to direct commercial sales, this has involved the immediate suspension of outstanding munitions export licenses and the stopping at US ports of all shipments under such licenses.

2. Jordan and Lebanon are being treated in the same manner as countries which have broken relations with us.⁴

3. Munitions export licenses issued, prior to June 8, to states in the area which have not broken relations with us remain in effect. Under this arrangement, the following magnitudes of equipment would continue to be deliverable: Israel $38 million; Saudi Arabia $57 million; Kuwait $17,000; and Morocco $16,000.

4. No new munitions export licenses are being approved and no further shipments under the Military Assistance Program (both grant aid and credit sales) are being approved even for those countries which have not broken relations. Current credit sales negotiations are continuing, but US negotiators are instructed not to consummate any new sale.⁵ Any further approvals or shipments will require the prior approval of the Secretaries of State and Defense.

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Committee, Special Committee Meetings. Secret. Drafted on June 15; also see Document 287.
2. Telegram 210998 to Geneva, June 14, instructed the U.S. mission to approach the International Committee of the Red Cross to ask if the ICRC wanted such assistance. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27 ARAB–ISR)
3. Printed from a copy that bears this typewritten signature.
4. This policy suspends munitions export licenses covering $238,000 in arms for Lebanon; there are no outstanding export licenses for Jordan. It does, however, stop all scheduled grant aid shipments to Jordan under MAP (about $1.5 million per year in spare parts) and suspends the sales contract for 12 F–104 aircraft under which initial deliveries to Jordan are scheduled for August 1967. [Footnote in the source text.]
5. The value of pending requests for munitions export licenses blocked by this action is: Israel $1.2 million; Jordan $59,000; Kuwait $125,000; Lebanon $47,000; Saudi Arabia $3.2 million; Syria $463,000; and Iraq $390,000. In addition, this policy, if unmodified over the next several months, would block shipment of the Israeli arms package approved by the President on May 23 (100 APC for cash, $14 million of Hawk and tank spares for credit), and the 1966 agreement to sell 48 A–4 aircraft to Israel. [Footnote in the source text.]