146. Memorandum From Harold H. Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow)1
SUBJECT
- Airlift of Equipment to Jordan
The attached memorandum from Dick Helms to the President reports another request [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] that [Page 284] we airlift some of the equipment included in our recent arms agreement.2
We have already arranged two or three regular supply flights of non-lethal equipment down from Turkey. State and Defense are now arguing over whether to arrange 10–15 special flights to carry a few of the AA guns and other combat equipment to make a psychological impact such as we tried for after the Israeli raid on Samua in 1966.
Luke is trying to push this to urgent decision. Therefore, we do not have a solid proposal yet, and I would recommend giving him another day or two to work one out with Defense. If he can, then we would probably want to tell the President since it would dramatize our arms shipments to Jordan at a time when military exchanges across the Jordan River continue. Until we have a recommendation, however, you may not want to distract him from other more important issues.
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Vol. V, Memos, 3/68–1/69. Secret.↩
- Not printed. [text not declassified] Ambassador Symmes supported this appeal in telegram 4371 from Amman, April 16: “I cannot emphasize too strongly the need to be forthcoming to the GOJ with respect to airlift.” (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 19-8 US-JORDAN)↩