· I 1 f October 23 1964 SECRET SENSiTIVE MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE The President has received a very private and informal approach from Prime Minister Eshkol on delaying our next inspection of the Dimona reactor for which we are currently pressing Eshkol recognizes Is 1 - __ has committed itself to periodic inspection of Dimona though apparently on an annual rather than semi-annual basis However he has personally appealed fo r deferring this inspection until after his elections in November 1965 He is concerned about charges that he has opened Israel's reactor to inspection by other powers and contends that if he is compelled to honor his agreement it will jeopardize r his political position Eshkol further points out that there is no possibili1 that Dimona could be converted to military purposes in so short a p e riod of time The President would a ppreciate your recommendations However he would not want to decide so sensitive a matter until after our elections which gives time for us to investigate the full implications of a delay en route In the meantime I suggest that we postpone a ny further diplomatic approaches in Israel May I a lso suggest that we ask John McCone for an evaluation of the possible risks in an inspection gap which might be as much as two years A - tellloved anslen ed tr O FADRC Cat • T1un nrrea 0 1 T A 0 RC with o id •i o nal cc ias M c G eorge Bundy b S 5 Cat C Cnr t• il' a d - ody c-onlr ll ' d -Y5 15 retaanod f J rt Reviewed by-- • O - o £ _ 7-Y l___ D n t• I 1' 9 td' £ lr- 8' OEPARTM Nl OF STAT C Cl c lf t to ___ _ ltata n c f1131 'n With c n• Oo I' · ' _ l 1 r • c lse u I ' ° i'2 Soc l J t J _ __ _ _ __ F 'C HDR b y _ _ _ - - ' I -SECRET SENSITIVE n1 0 NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu Read related article Duplicity Deception and Self-Deception Israel the United States and the Dimona Inspections 1964-65 2020-11-03