LETTER TO ALLEN W. DULLES FROM JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000800050057-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2002
• Sequence Number: 57
• Publication Date: April 3, 1961
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/11/22 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000800050057-9
C THE WHITE HOUSE
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P
Y
NSC REFERRAL NOT REQUIRERD
Dear Allen:
April 3, 1961
I think I owe you a note of regret for the nature of my
intervention the other day. Obviously I should have
expressed my reservations to you, which would be my
normal habit, and it is only a partial excuse that the
President was reacting with typical vigor to a breakfast
conversation. Disagreement is a source of wisdom if
combined with first hand candor and becomes a cause of
friction if not.
Might I at the same time urge a policy point? I am
gravely concerned that we balance the gain from
specific operations of this sort against any more general
political discredit or disadvantage that is either inherent
or the result of any possible miscarriage or miscalcu-
lation. In the context of Laos, where indeed the Russians
might plausibly be in process of persuading the Asians
this seemed to me the missing element. And I was struck
by Dick Bissell's typically candid comment that the gains
were, indeed, marginal.
Our-present advantage in the uncommitted world is the
confidence that exists in our stability, responsibility and
non-belligerent stance -- this is the greatest of the Kennedy
assets. I am sure we agree on the urgency of safeguarding
this asset.
Sincerely,
/s/
John Kenneth Galbraith
The Honorable Allen W. Dulles
Director, Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.
cc: Mr. Bundy
Approved For Release 2002/11/22 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000800050057-9