China
121. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/6-1962. Secret; Priority: Drafted by Yager; cleared by Allen Evans, Deputy Director for Research in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and in draft by Harriman; and approved by Rice.
122. Record of Meeting
Source: Kennedy Library, Hilsman Papers, Box 1, China—Offshore Islands Crisis, 6/62. No classification marking, but the first page is marked “T.S. File.” The document is apparently a transcript of an oral briefing by Hilsman of the meeting, which was held at the White House. A summary record of the meeting is in a memorandum for the record by Cline; according to it, the participants included Kennedy, Vice President Johnson, the President’s Military Representative General Maxwell D. Taylor, Bundy, Forrestal, Ball, U. Alexis Johnson, Harriman, Hilsman, McCone, McNamara, Lemnitzer, Felt, and Kirk. (Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80-B01285A, DCI Meetings With the President) A June 20 memorandum from Taylor to the Director of the Joint Staff describes this meeting as a briefing of the President on China and suggests that DOD/JCS representatives include in their presentations the answers to several questions which “have Presidential interest” concerning the possibility of a Communist attack on the offshore islands, the ability of the Nationalists to defend them, and U.S. assistance that might be necessary for a successful defense. (National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Box 17, Folder 11, Miscellaneous)
123. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos. Top Secret. Drafted by Forrestal on June 22 and revised on July 16 to incorporate suggestions by Lieutenant Colonel John Eisenhower. Forrestal’s original draft is filed with a copy of a June 22 memorandum, which he sent to John Eisenhower enclosing his draft and inviting the latter’s comments. (Ibid., China) A copy is also filed with John Eisenhower’s June 26 reply suggesting several revisions. (Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower Post-Presidential Papers, Augusta-Walter Reed Series, Memorandum of Conference)
124. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Ball to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, China. Secret. The source text does not indicate the drafter, but the Department’s record copy indicates that it was drafted by Ball. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/6-2162) The source text bears a handwritten note: “OK’d by the President. M.K.” A memorandum of June 22 from Bundy to Ball notified him of the President’s approval. (Ibid., 793.5/6-2262)
125. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Hilsman) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Harriman)
Source: Department of State, FE Files: Lot 64 D 25, Communist China. Secret.
126. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Nitze) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (McGhee)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/6-2162. Secret.
127. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, China Security, 1962-63, Secret. Sent to Kennedy on June 24 with a covering note from Bromley Smith.
128. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/6-2262. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Bacon, cleared by Yager and Tyler, and approved by Harriman. Repeated to Taipei, Hong Kong, Warsaw, and Rome for the Secretary.
130. Telegram From the Consulate General at Hong Kong to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.54/6-2262. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Taipei, Tokyo, Moscow, London, and CINCPAC for POLAD.
131. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/6-2362. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated to London, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Rome for the Secretary. A copy of this telegram, along with Document 127, was sent to Kennedy with a June 24 note from Bromley Smith which reads: “Ball and Harriman believe the Chinese Communist demarche was made because of anxiety that the Nationalists might invade. They believe the Communists are also concerned about local unrest in the area into which Communist troops have been moved.” (Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, China Security, 1962-1963)
132. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11-RU/6-2462. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Kohler and approved in S on June 28. The conversation was held at Carleton Gardens.
133. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11-RU/6-2562. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Bohlen and approved in S on July 3. The conversation was held at the Foreign Ministry.
134. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, China. Top Secret.
135. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80-B01285A, DCI Meetings with the President. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by McCone. Kennedy’s Appointment Book lists the time of the meeting as 10:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. It lists 30 persons present, including Kennedy, Johnson, McNamara, and Ball. (Kennedy Library) Lemnitzer’s notes of the portion of the meeting here printed are similar in substance. (National Defense University, Lemnitzer Papers, Box 29)
136. Memorandum From the President’s Military Representative (Taylor) to President Kennedy
Source: National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Box 47, Quemoy-Matsu 1962. Top Secret.
138. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/6-2862. Top Secret; Roger Channel. Drafted by Forrestal; cleared by Bundy and in draft by Rice; and approved by Joseph W. Scott, Deputy Director for Coordination in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Repeated to CINCPAC eyes only for Kirk, who was en route to Taipei.
139. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/7-462. Top Secret; Roger Channel. Repeated to CINCPAC. Received at 6:47 a.m.
140. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/7-562. Top Secret; Roger Channel. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD.
141. Special National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Department of State, INR/EAP Files: Lot 90 D 110, SINE 13-5/1-62. Secret. According to a note on the cover sheet, the Central Intelligence Agency and intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, Defense, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force participated in the preparation of this estimate. All members of the USIB concurred with this estimate on July 5 except the representatives of the AEC and the FBI, who abstained on the grounds that the subject was outside their jurisdiction.
142. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/7-762. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted and approved for transmission by Yager and cleared by U. Alexis Johnson. Repeated to Geneva for Harriman.
143. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/7-1262. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Taipei, Hong Kong, Geneva, Stockholm, and Moscow.
144. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.56/7-2762. Secret; Roger Channel.
145. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 893.49/7-2862. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by William J. Cunningham of the Office of East Asian Affairs and approved by Rice. Also sent to New Delhi.
146. Letter From the Counselor of the Department of State (Rostow) to the President’s Military Representative (Taylor)
Source: National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Box 44, Other Far East. Secret.
147. Memorandum From Michael Forrestal of the White House Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Michael Forrestal. Top Secret and Personal. A note in Bundy’s handwriting reads, “Hold for meeting on China this PM. MGB.”
148. Message From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Harriman) to the Ambassador to the Republic of China (Kirk)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, China. Secret. The source text does not indicate the transmission time. The message was approved in an August 8 meeting with the President, recorded in a memorandum for the record by McCone, dated August 9. (Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80-B01285A, Box 6, DCI Meetings with the President)
149. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8-2362. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Stockholm, Moscow, Taipei, and Hong Kong.
150. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.56/8-2362. Secret; No Distribution Outside Department.