Conversation on Sale of Jets to Lebanon
Versus Israel
(June 30, 1964)
An interesting conversation
illustrating State Department calculations
regarding jet sales to Lebanon and other Arab
states.
75. Memorandum of Telephone
Conversation Between Secretary of State Rusk
and the Assistant Secretary of State for Near
Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot)1
Washington, June 30, 1964,
9:42 a.m.
TELEPHONE CALL TO MR TALBOT
Sec asked if we would sell supersonic aircraft to Israel. T said no.
Sec asked why we sell to the Lebanese.2 T said basically
because we are doing for the Lebanese, Saudis and possibly the Jordanians
what we would not do for the three main Arab countries on the grounds
that Lebanon is acknowledged by Israel to be no threat. Sec said he
did not see our selling supersonic aircraft to any of the Arab neighbors
if we are not prepared to sell to Israel. T said there was a paper which
has been on its way to the Sec since April; last week we asked for the
beginning of a study on the implications of the whole idea of military
sales; there has been a great change in what is being offered without
any policy considerations being given. Sec asked if we asked Israelis
if they minded what they would say. T said they would rather we sell
nothing to any Arab country but they have accepted tacitly our support
of these three. Sec said he had an uneasy feeling that we do not have
our policy lines straightened out on this issue; let's give some thought
to that; it would be possible for govts in these three to change or
for united command to be set up. T agreed; T said he wanted to get whole
question of military sales up to high level consideration.
Notes
1 Source: National Archives and Records Administration,
RG 59, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Rusk Telephone Conversations. No classification
marking. Prepared by Rusk's personal assistant Carolyn J. Proctor.
2 Talbot informed the Lebanese Ambassador
on June 30 of U.S. willingness to enter into an agreement to sell 16
F-8A aircraft but not "Sidewinder" missiles. (Telegram 2 to
Beirut, July 1; ibid., Central Files 1964-66, DEF 12-5 LEB) A July 7
memorandum from Talbot to Rusk outlined the background of the sale.
(Ibid., DEF 19-3 US-LEB) An agreement was signed July 15. (Telegram
68 to Beirut, July 16; ibid., DEF 12-5 LEB)
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, V. 18, Arab-Israeli
Dispute 1964-1967. DC: GPO,
2000. |