Office of the Historian

484. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson1

Washington, February 20, 1968, 3:15 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Possible Ayub Visit

Ben Oehlert has had a feeler2—which he thinks is premeditated and serious—from one of the caretaker military leaders who is minding the store in Pakistan while President Ayub recovers from what we now believe were two successive heart attacks. The suggestion is that Ayub would make a visit to Britain and the United States during his convalescence.

The public reason for the trip here would be medical, but the private reason would be a face-to-face negotiation with you about renewal of our important intelligence facility at Peshawar.

Oehlert reports he was “completely non-committal about a U.S. trip both generally and during any particular time frame.” He has asked for guidance on whether we would welcome such a trip and, if so, when.

At Tab A, for your approval, is a draft reply which says:

  • —We would be happy to provide Ayub with any medical help he wants in the United States.
  • —The President would want to see Ayub.
  • —For Oehlert’s information, we would prefer a private visit as part of Ayub’s recuperation, but we would try to arrange an official visit if Ayub strongly prefers it.
  • —In any event, we want to avoid the impression that we are deeply worried about the Peshawar negotiation. (The renewal need not be effective until the end of June. We should try to keep our cool as long as we can.)

[Page 949]

I think this is about right. Ben is certain to deliver the message with the warmth I know you would want.

Walt

Approve message3

Disapprove

Call me

  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Pakistan, Vol. VIII, Cables, 8/67–4/68. Secret.↩
  2. In telegram 3451 from Rawalpindi, February 18, Oehlert reported that Defense Minister Khan had suggested that the issue of Peshawar could best be decided by Ayub and Johnson in a face-to-face meeting that might take place in the United States during a trip planned as a part of Ayub’s convalescence. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 15–1 PAK)↩
  3. Johnson checked this option and added the handwritten notation “as amended.” He amended the proposed message to delete a reference to possible scheduling problems. The gist of the message remained as outlined in this memorandum and was sent to Rawalpindi in telegram 118643, February 21. (Ibid.)↩