Memorandum Outlines Israeli Objections to Changes
in the Johnson Plan
(September 20, 1962)
This memorandum relays Israel's opposition to the Johnson
plan in light of the many changes the have been made to the original
proposal.
Mike and I talked with the President yesterday afternoon
about the Johnson plan, and as I am leaving today I want you to know
where things stand.
Mike reported to the President the deep concern of
the Israelis and the pressure which they are mounting against the Johnson
plan in its current form. There was inconclusive discussion of the degree
to which the plan has in fact changed since Mike presented it in Israel,
and the President took the view that Johnson must take the responsibility
of pressing with the Israelis a discussion of the current status of
the plan. The United States is not prepared to defend with the Israelis
any modifications on what was agreed before Mike went to Israel and
what he explained to Ben-Gurion. The President's view was that we should
stick with the position which Mike explained in Israel and that the
Israelis should also stay where they were when Ben-Gurion talked to
Mike.
The President also said that we should not get way
out front on this one, especially between now and the election, and
I take this to mean what I have argued before--that the Department should
not shower the Middle East with telegrams in praise of the Johnson plan.
McGeorge Bundy/2/
/1/Source: Kennedy Library,
National Security Files, Countries Series,
Palestine, Refugees, 8/62-9/62, Vol. II.
Secret. Copies were sent to Feldman and Kaysen.
/2/Printed from a copy that
bears this typed signature.
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Near East, 1962-1963,
V. XVIII. DC: GPO,
2000. |