Kennedy Letter to Eshkol
Regarding Visits to Dimona
(August 26, 1963)
This is a telegram from the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel transmitting a letter from President Kennedy to Prime
Minister Eshkol concerning visits to Dimona.
"Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
"Your letter of August 19 was most welcome here. I appreciate
that this was a difficult decision, yet I am convinced that in generously
agreeing to invite our scientists to visit the Dimona complex on the
regular basis that was proposed you have acted from a deep wisdom regarding
Israel's security in the longer term and the awesome realities which
the atomic age imposes on the community of man.
You have suggested that an initial visit take place toward the end
of this year in the pre-startup stage. I am asking Ambassador Barbour
to keep in touch with you so that the visit can be arranged for at a
time when the reactor's core is being loaded and before internal radiation
hazards have developed.
The recent overwhelming endorsement of the partial test ban treaty
has moved us all a small step in the direction of a more peaceful world.
Our purpose must be to continue striving toward the effective control
of the power of the atom so that it may be used only for the welfare
of man. The spirit you have shown in your letter to me is a clear indication
that you share that same high purpose.
Sincerely, John F. Kennedy"
In conveying foregoing,
you should say: "President Kennedy has
taken note of the Prime Minister's request
that for the present information obtained
from the visits envisaged in this exchange
of letters should not be passed on to Nasser.
The USG will of course comply with this
request, but the President is also taking
note of the fact that the Prime Minister
has not fully made up his own mind, and has
asked you to express his own belief that
there are real advantages for security in
setting to rest any fears which might otherwise
lead to nuclear weapons acquisitions efforts
by others in the area. It was this notion,
shared on both sides, which underlay the
agreement of May 1961 between the President
and Ben-Gurion, and the President hopes that
there can be further consideration of this
matter as opportunity serves."
You should inform Prime Minister that you expect President's reply
to Ben-Gurion's May 12 letter on Israel's security problems will be
received shortly.
Embassy should arrange with PriMin a point of continuing contact (perhaps
through Science Attaché Webber on Embassy side) for determination
of timing end-1963 visit, keeping Department continuously informed.
Rusk
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Near East, 1962-1963, V.
XVIII. |