Letter to Israeli PM Eshkol on Forthcoming
Meeting
(February 20, 1964)
"Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
"I am delighted that you and I will
soon have an opportunity to discuss our mutual
interests and problems. The dates of June
1 and 2 would suit me well.
"I also want to thank you for the warm
welcome given Sargent Shriver during his recent
visit to Israel. He has told me in glowing
terms of the hospitality he received. He was
much impressed with the technical assistance
work your people have undertaken, and he particularly
enjoyed his meeting with you.
"As you know, we have been giving careful
thought to your expressed concerns about Israel's
security needs. In particular we can understand
your worries over the growing imbalance between
Israeli and Arab armor, and can see the justification
for your feeling that you must take steps
to modernize Israel's tank forces and anti-tank
defenses. We are fully prepared to discuss
this problem further with you.
"At the same time we are disturbed lest
other steps which Israel may contemplate taking
may unnecessarily contribute to a heightened
arms race in the region without in fact contributing
to your security. Among other things, we seem
to have quite different estimates with respect
to the likely UAR missile threat, and the
potential costs and risks of various ways
of meeting it. Because of our own link to
Israel's security, I feel that these matters
too are of legitimate mutual concern and merit
frank discussion.
"As you and I are both so well aware,
we face a number of issues this year that
will demand a heavy investment of United States
effort in support of Israel. Among them are
the Jordan waters off-take, the activation
of the Dimona reactor, and the related problems
of Israel's security and the Near East arms
race. We must work together to minimize undesirable
repercussions and devise steps to avoid unnecessary
increases in Arab antagonism, with the consequent
weakening of the forces of moderation. At
stake is United States influence with the
Arabs, which we see as an essential component
of our ability to help bring about any improvement
in the relations between Israel and its neighbors.
"I am sure we will want to discuss all
these matters when we meet. Pending our meeting,
I hope that your people and mine can air them
frankly and freely so as to narrow down any
points of difference. In the meantime let
me assure you again that your genuine security
concerns remain very much in our minds, and
we of course wish to keep in closest touch
about any significant developments that might
affect Israel's situation.
"Sincerely,
"Lyndon B. Johnson"
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, V. 18, Arab-Israeli
Dispute 1964-1967. DC: GPO,
2000. |