XII. Proceedings of the NSC Working Group on Vietnam, November 1–December 7
423. Memorandum From the Chairman of the National Security Council Working Group (Bundy) to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files, Working Papers, Nov 1964, Vol. 1. Top Secret. Also sent to McNamara, McCone, Wheeler, Ball, and McGeorge Bundy. Also printed in Pentagon Papers: Gravel Edition, vol. III, pp. 646–650. McGeorge Bundy’s copy of this memorandum bears his handwritten notes reflecting the discussion of these issues at the meeting at 5 p.m. on November 24. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Vietnam Country File, Courses of Action in SEA) For a record of the meeting, see Document 424.
424. Memorandum of the Meeting of the Executive Committee
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files, Working Papers, Nov 1964, Vol. 1. Top Secret. Drafted by William Bundy on November 25. Also published in Declassified Documents, 1983, 000555. Bundy’s handwritten notes on the meeting show that items I C and E, IV C, and V A provoked the most discussion. (Department of State, Bundy Files Master Papers, Late Nov 1964)
425. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Saigon Embassy Files: Lot 68 F 8. Top Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Taylor on November 24. Repeated to CINCPAC.
426. Paper Prepared by the Ambassador in Vietnam (Taylor)
Source: National Defense University, Taylor Papers, T–157–69. Top Secret. The source text is initialed by Taylor and bears his notation: “Papers used in Washington during Dec 64 trip.” Printed also in Pentagon Papers: Gravel Edition, vol. III, pp. 666–673 and published in Declassified Documents, 1983, 000557.
428. Memorandum of the Meeting of the Executive Committee
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files, Working Papers, Nov 1964, Vol. 1. Top Secret. Drafted by William Bundy. Also printed in Pentagon Papers: Gravel Edition, vol. 111, pp. 674–676. Bundy’s handwritten notes on this meeting are in Department of State, Bundy Files, Master Papers, Late Nov 1964. He also describes it in some detail in his manuscript, Chapter 19, pp. 5–8. (Ibid.) Taylor notes that the meeting began at 9:30 a.m. (National Defense University, Taylor Papers, T–272–69), but this is inconsistent with Rusk’s Appointment Book and Bundy’s Manuscript which give 11:30 and late morning, respectively, as the time of the meeting.
429. Paper Prepared by the Ambassador to Vietnam (Taylor)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Vietnam Country File, Vol. XXIII, Memos. Secret. Attached to a note from the Executive Secretariat of the Department of State, dated November 27, which stated that the questions were circulated for consideration by the members of the Executive Committee.
430. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (Cline) to the Director of Central Intelligence (McCone)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File. Vietnam Country File. Vol. XXII. Memos. Top Secret.
432. Notes on a Meeting, White House
Source: Johnson Library, Meeting Notes File, 12–1–64. Top Secret. The source text is handwritten notes taken by McNaughton. A similar but shorter set of handwritten notes, taken by William Bundy, is in Department of State, Bundy Files, Master Papers, Late Nov 1964. The meeting is also described in Bundy’s manuscript, Chap. 19, pp. 13–17. (Ibid.) The President had met with Rusk, McNamara, and William Bundy at 10:30 a.m. Johnson Library, President’s Daily Diary)
433. Paper Prepared by the Executive Committee
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Aides File, McGeorge Bundy, Memos to the President. Top Secret. Also published in Declassified Documents, 1978, 130B. The Executive Committee met at 4:30 p.m. on December 2 to revise the previous draft of this paper (see Document 431) in light of the discussion with the President on December 1. It was approved by the President on December 3 (see Document 434) and formally transmitted to Rusk, McNamara, and McCone as Tab 1 to Document 440.
435. Instructions From the President to the Ambassador to Vietnam (Taylor)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Aides File, McGeorge Bundy, Memos to the President. Top Secret. The instructions were approved by the President on December 3 (see Document 434) and formally transmitted to Rusk, McNamara, and McCone as Tab 2 to Document 440.
436. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam
Source: Department of State, Vietnam Negotiating Files: Lot 69 D 412, Seaborn. Top Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Forrestal and cleared with William Bundy and McNaughton. Also sent to Ottawa. Also printed in George C. Herring, ed., The Secret Diplomacy of the Vietnam War: The Negotiating Volumes of the Pentagon Papers (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1983), p. 37.
437. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by William Bundy and initialed by Ball. Also sent to Canberra and Wellington.
438. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the President
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Aides File, McGeorge Bundy, Memos to the President. Secret.
439. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to Bangkok. According to another copy, this telegram was drafted by Johnson and cleared with Taylor. (Ibid., Saigon Embassy Files: Lot 68 F 8) Received at 9:18 a.m.
440. Memorandum From the President to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense (McNamara), and the Director of Central Intelligence (McCone)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Aides File, McGeorge Bundy, Memos to the President. Top Secret. Also published in Declassified Documents, 1978, 1 30B.