Near East, 1961–1962
271. Letter From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the President’s Special Representative and Adviser on African, Asian, and Latin American Affairs (Bowles)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B/5–1262. Secret.
272. Telegram From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/5–1562. Confidential. Repeated to Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and USUN.
273. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Bundy) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.00/5–2362. Secret. The copy sent to McGeorge Bundy is in the Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, Israel, 4/2/62–5/31/62.
274. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B/5–2362. Confidential. Repeated to Cairo, Jidda, and Amman.
275. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.5/5–2462. Secret. Drafted by Hamilton on May 23; cleared by Tucker (DOD/ISA) in substance, Talbot, and Pezzullo (S/S); and approved by McGhee. Repeated to London, Cairo, Beirut, Baghdad, Jidda, Damascus, Amman, and Jerusalem.
276. Paper Prepared in the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86/5–2462. Confidential. Drafted by Strong on May 15; retyped in the Executive Secretariat on May 24; and cleared by Williams (AID), Palmer (FN), Meloy (G), McGhee, and Bowles. Transmitted to McGeorge Bundy under cover of a May 24 memorandum from Brubeck that reads: “The enclosed memorandum is for the information of the White House. It reviews developments leading to the Kaissouni visit; describes the present situation; points the direction for the next nine to twelve months, the period we expect to elapse before we reach the point of ‘talking development consortium’ seriously with the UAR; and identifies political gains already made and the long-term benefits we hope to achieve.” Komer passed the paper to the President on May 28; see Document 279.
277. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.84A/5–2862. Secret.
278. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.84A/5–2062. Secret. Drafted by Hamilton, cleared by Pezzullo (S/S) and Strong, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Jerusalem, Baghdad, Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, Beirut, London, and Paris.
279. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, United Arab Republic, 3/62–5/62. Secret. Komer’s memorandum was passed to McGeorge Bundy under cover of a May 28 note that reads: “I think it important that we keep JFK up to date on progress of the Nasser gambit. Aside from the flak it is already generating, it is a most delicate operation in which the President’s prestige is inevitably caught up. On the other hand, I hope that over time it will prove (like our Yugo policy in the ‘50s) one of the major foreign policy plusses of his Administration. Attached is over-long but well written, and worth JFK’s weekend reading. Meanwhile, S/P and I are ginning up some ideas on how to get a more effective political dialogue going.” (Ibid., Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer)
280. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman) to the National Security Council Executive Secretary (Smith)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, United Arab Republic, 3/62–5/62. No classification marking.
281. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Battle) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/5–3162. Confidential. Drafted by Crawford on May 25 and cleared by Talbot, Wallner (IO), and Palmer (IO/UNP).
282. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer. Secret. Copies were sent to Bundy and Kaysen. A June 1 note attached to the source text from Komer to Bundy reads: “Mike is certainly beating on State these days with a drumfire of ‘queries.’ I’m not sure he realizes that our long-term ability to promote steps toward an A–I settlement depends largely on a sufficiently even-handed attitude toward Arab and Israeli to give us leverage with Arabs. As you know, I agree that pendulum has swung sufficiently that compensatory gestures toward Israel desirable, but I believe that: (1) what Israelis really need and want is reaffirmation of our security guarantee; (2) we should use this prospect to get certain concessions from them.”
283. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (McGhee) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State,NEA/IAI Files: Lot 70 D 229, Jordan Waters Memoranda. Confidential.
284. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, Iran, 8/12/62– 8/31/62. Secret.
285. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 885.2612/6–162. Confidential. Drafted by Crawford; cleared by Ludlow, Palmer, Sisco, Dinsmore (NEA/NE), and Strong; and approved by Talbot. Also sent to USUN and Jerusalem and repeated to Tel Aviv.
286. Telegram From the Embassy in Iraq to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.87/6–262. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, London, and Kuwait.
287. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.87/6–462. Secret. Copies were sent to Bowles and McGeorge Bundy.
288. Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86A/6–462. Secret. Drafted by Killgore (NEA/NE) and Seelye on May 31 and cleared by Strong, Wright (AID), and Padelford (NR).
289. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/6–762. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford on June 12.
290. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State,NEA/NE Files: Lot 65 D 5, Israel—1962, U.S. Milit. Asst.—Gen. 2-As. Secret. Drafted by Strong.
291. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.5612/6–1762. Secret. Attached to Document 299.
292. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 888.00/6–1262. Secret; Priority.
293. Letter From President Kennedy to Prime Minister Ben Gurion
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, Israel, 6/2/62– 6/15/62. Personal and Secret. A handwritten note on the source text indicates that the letter was sent to the Israeli Embassy for Ambassador Harman on June 15. According to the notes of a telephone conversation between Secretary Rusk and Feldman that began at 4:44 p.m. on June 13, “The Sec returned the call. F said the Pres asked about the Ben Gurion letter. F showed him the probable response. Meantime F talked to Harman and he said this is the exact response. F said it was their (his and Sec’s) that they had the full letter. [sic] Pres said to let it go out now and get on with it. F will send it over now for the Sec to transmit to Harman. Sec asked if paragraphs will be exact and F said yes. Sec asked what about other suggestions. F will talk with him about it again. BG considers himself a world statesman and wants to give his views on Africa, Latin America, etc. Sec said no problem on things not involving the Near East. But he does not like it re prestige of the Pres of the US. F mentioned this to the Pres. F replied letter not to be made public.” (Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations)
294. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer. Secret. Copies were sent to Kaysen and Hansen.
295. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iran
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 888.00/6–1262. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Miklos (NEA/GTI); cleared by Ide (AID/NESA), Kaufmann (AID/NESA/GTIC), and Cottam; and approved by Grant.
296. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.5622/6–1562. Top Secret; Limited Distribution.
298. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, Israel 6/16/62–6/30/62. No classification marking. Drafted by Kaysen. Copies were sent to Talbot, Feldman, and Komer.
299. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Grant) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.5612/6–1762. Secret. Drafted by Grant. A June 20 memorandum from Grant to Hilsman indicates that this memorandum was not shown to Secretary Rusk before he left for the NATO Ministerial meeting in Paris on June 19. (Ibid., 684A.86B/6–2062)
300. Letter From the President’s Deputy Special Counsel (Feldman) to the Representative to the United Nations (Stevenson)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86B/6–1962. Confidential. The source text is the copy sent to Talbot.