Office of the Historian

22. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson1

Washington, January 22, 1964.

The Attorney General’s mission is coming along very well. Latest report last night shows he cleared the tough Kuala Lumpur hurdle by [Page 45] getting the Tunku to agree to a tripartite meeting if Sukarno suspends military action.2 One fly in the ointment is that Tunku agreed to meet only at ministerial level with possible Summit later, whereas Sukarno wanted the initial bargain to include a Summit. But Bobby should be able to work this out.

To tape things down and forestall each side putting out its own slanted version, Bobby will probably issue a public statement (either in Djakarta, where he is now, or Bangkok his next stop). From Bangkok he heads direct to London, where hopefully the British will be duly grateful, and then home Monday or Tuesday.

In short, it looks as though he may have gotten the Malaysia dispute “out of the jungle and onto the conference table.” Subsequent negotiation of a compromise settlement will be tricky, but if the parties come to the table it means they want to make a deal.

R.W. Komer 3
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of Robert W. Komer, Malaysia, Dec. 63–Mar. 66. Secret.↩
  2. As reported in telegram 631 from Kuala Lumpur. January 22. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 3 MALPHILINDO)↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩