MEMORANDUM FOR MR. MCCONE FROM M.S.C.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R001400010002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 13, 2009
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 19, 1964
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80B01676R001400010002-6
19 February 1964
BANDUM FOR MR. -fcCON
I. Attached is a mernorandum from M lcGeorge Bundy with
the proposed public a nou rucement on the XRF aircraft.
2. lam meo
with 'heelon and
Cunningham, and
this afternoon and perhaps
I have already mast with Wheelon,
syr are preparing for me a number
of proposed course* of action that must be taken in order to
follow through on the President's decision. These actions
will be designed to protect the security of the Agency assets
in all particulars. They will, of course, be fully discussed
with you when ready.
3. As to the proposed. preps release itself, it would be
helpful if those portions I have bracketted could be deleted,
especially if we wish to make every effort to keep the Agency
involvement secret.
4. For your personal information, the underlined portion
.of ):ac Bundy's memorandum is a attar of concern to me. I
have no doubt that the Agency to a man will respect the p'resident's
wishes, but I cannot guarantee that other less respectful people
will refrain from violating the I"residerat'as desires in this regard.
S. Finally, I would tope that the President would not make
any release until all of no are absolutely certain we have all the
ends buttoned up, and have planned for every possible contingency
it may Well be that a week Is inadequate to insure that all witting
persons are alerted and to get Congressional leadership (particularly
the loyal opposition), newspaper publishers, ate., entirely clued In
in advance.
NSC review completed.
MSC:bec
Orig - DCI (by hand by Gen. C.)
1 - DDCI (w/surfacing papers)
1 - Mr. Cunningham(?) by hand by G'en. C. L
A _1 r_._ r~_1 ____ nnnninwiwn ~I n r~r~r~nnr~nw n~nr~nnw wnnnw nnnn n
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
STAT
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
14 February 1964
SUBJECT: Special Group. (5412) Meeting at 1600 on 13 February
1. Present were Mr. McGeorge Bundy, Mr. McCone,
Mr. Vance, General Taylor, Mr. Alexis Johnson, Mr. Mann,
General Carter, Mr. FitzGerald, and Peter Jessup. General
Taylor and Mr. FitzGerald were present only for the Cuban
item.
2. Prior to the arrival of Mr. Bundy, General Taylor
mentioned to Mr. Alexis Johnson an upcoming trip of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff to Norfolk, Fort Bragg, and Panama. After
some jocular bantering, Mr. Johnson vetoed the Panama portion
of the trip, with General Taylor hoping that this denial was
purely for the physical protection of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
3. Mr. McCone mentioned the possibility that he might
go to Saigon next week to see what was going on out there. He
stated that we were not getting sufficient timely information
from the Ambassador and that while he and Mr. McNamara
might be going out later as a follow-up to their December trip,
he felt the need to go now. General Taylor pointed out that
there have been a great many visitors to Saigon in recent months
and perhaps we should give them a rest out there for a while.
In any event, he thought perhaps the newly-created NSAM com-
mittee headed by Sullivan would want to make such a trip. General
Taylor seemed reluctant to have Mr. McCone go at this time.
Mr. Johnson said he would take a look at it and be in touch with
Mr. McCone early next week.
4. The first item on the agenda was a discussion of
the Vance memo of 10 February on "Clandestine and Covert
Activities Against Cuba. " Mr. Vance stated that he was strongly
for this course of action, that the risks were minimal, and that
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80B01676R001400010002-6
the JCS and Secretary McNamara also strongly supported it.
Mr. Johnson pointed out that he would be much happier if the
paper had been sent to the Cuban Coordinating Committee in
accordance with usual procedures. Mr. Vance stated that the
committee knows all about it and are for it. Mr. McCone
stated that he was disturbed over the trend of events in Cuba
and that this particular paper really does not go far enough.
He pointed out that our economic denial program was eroding
away and that the courses of action proposed by Mr. Vance's
memo gave Castro maximum grounds for righteous indignation
without really accomplishing anything. Mr. Vance stated that
prior activities in this regard had created great consternation
in Cuba, and Bundy challenged this and asked for proof. Mr.
McCone pointed out the many times that we have had to stand
down actions of this type in order to avoid raising the noise
level. General Taylor said that what we really must do is to
reaffirm the belief of the senior policy makers to the President
that a program of this type must be continued. Mr. Bundy
pointed out that the Secretary of Defense had previously stated
to the President, along with Secretary Rusk, that they were
not enthusiastic for this type of activity but he noted now that
Mr. McNamara had reversed his position. Bundy pointed out
that we have been somewhat hesitant to go ahead. full force on
these actions because we did not want to prejudice our position
before the OAS in connection with the Venezuelan arms cache.
Mann stated that our entire program as regards Cuba was
ineffective insofar as it could result in any overthrow of Castro.
Bundy stated that the low
risk actions appear unrewarding and that rewarding actions have
too high a risk. Mann stated that we need to do a lot more
homework-before the next OAS meeting (presently unscheduled)
and Bundy said in any event we must have a top-level Cabinet
Meeting with the President to discuss this whole matter. The
agenda item was left as follows:
a. Mann is to get the Crimmins staff hard at work
on the Vance paper and on other alternative courses
of action to include pros and cons, noise levels,
estimated results, etc.
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80B01676R001400010002-6
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
? .
b. Mann is to send around a draft OAS resolution
which was prepared during Martin's time.
c. As to the specific paragraphs of the Vance
memo, Bundy indicated his personal views (not an
Administration commitment) that items 1 and Za were
OK; 2b for Cuban ships only; 3a should be intensified;
3b and 3c were directly connected to a separate black-
list enterprise; 4 was OK. As for actions against
Cuban subversion in Latin America, on paragraph 1 we
should see just what our opportunities are, and on para-
graph 2 CIA should determine just what we think the
local traffic will bear and just what our capabilities
might be.
Finally, after a very short discussion on low-level reconnaissance
requirements for Cuba, General Taylor and Mr. McCone decided
to pay close attention to high-level results on Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday, and to take a fresh reading on the matter on Monday.
Action: DD/I to cover the low-level matter over the weekend,
DD/P to ride herd on the activities generated by the Vance memo.
5. The next item was a very cursory review of the
covert action programs for
Mr. Vance asked how we could measure the effectiveness
of such actions and Mr. McCone pointed out to him that this could
not be really adequately measured and gave all the reasons therefor.
Mr. Vance stated that he was just getting broken into this type of
activity and he would appreciate some briefings by the action
officers. (It was subse uently arranged through Pete Jessup to
have Colby and Lmake appointments with Secretary Vance
specifically to discuss operations and our Far Eastern
operations.
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80B01676R001400010002-6
?
to prepare for me by no later than noon Monday the simplest,
most -concise, directive along the foregoing lines.
Distribution:
Original - DDCI
1 - Elder
Paras 1-5 to
Paras6&7-DD S&T
Marshall S. Carter
Lieutenant General, USA
Deputy Director
DDP/ SGO
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80B01676R001400010002-6
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
4 Febleteary 1964
The Honorable McGeorge- Bu $y
Special Assistant to the President
for National Security Aff*irs
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Here is the SNIE I JWO mentioned to you on the
telephone. I have given it to Peter Jessup to hand-
carry directly.
to yoursel
is sensitivity, please limit its access
and as you sees fit, the Preesideent,
ithfully yours,
Marshall S. Carter
Lieutenant Central, USA
Acting Director
ant
SNLE 50-64 (Advance Copy),
tint 12 Feb 64
MSC:bec
Or.ig' - Adse (by hand to Mr. Jessup)
1 - .Acting DCI
1 - O/DCI (Mr. Elder)
1-DD/I
1 - AD/NE
1 - C/FE,(vxw DD"/'P)
1'r ` (via E Dir)
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
 Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6
Iq
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Approved For Release 2009/04/13: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001400010002-6