UNCLASSIFIED V INCOMING TELEGRAM Departntent of StateERMANENT REcoRD copy if_ _ T O P S t CR E T_ _ _ '-'V- -- -_ M Control Rec'd Action ss Info FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO -# NO · CTI0 COPY 2-'21 1« 16803 OCTOBER 7143 PM 22 t962 t Seoretary or State 222308z OCTOBER 'wl-llTE HOUSE MESSAGE LIMITED DISTRIBUTION F'OR s s DUTY OF'F ICER SECRET AR IAT ATTENilON1 MR LITTLE FROM SITUATION ROOM CITE CAP 5497-62 MY DEAR FRltND AMBASSADOR BRUCE CALLED TO SEE ME THIS MORNING AND GAVE --- i ME EVIDrNCE OF' THE SOVIET BUILD UP IN CUBA I QUITE UNDERSTAND _- HC1w F' ItRCEL Y AMER ICAN PlJBL IC QP IN ION WI LL REACf WHEN IT KNOWS THESE FACTS I HAVE THIS MOMENT' RECEIVED THROOOH OUR i TELEPRINTER THE TEXT OF' YOUR PR QfOSEl DECLARATION TONIGHT i LET ME SAY AT ONCE THAT WE SHALL OF' COURSE GIVE Y-OU ALL THE SUPPORT WE CAN IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL I HOPE THAT YOU WILL i PROVIDE US ll iEDIATELY WITH THE BEST LEGAL CASE TrlAT CAN BE MADE ' I IN SUPPORT OF' THE BROAD MORAL POSITION SO THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVE l ' CAN WEIGH IN EF'fECTIYELY CF' COURSE THE INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS WILL TAKE THE POINT THAT A BLOCKADE WHICH INVOLVES THE SEARCHING OF SHIPS OF A L COUNIRIES IS DIFFICULT TO DEFEND no PEACE TIME INDEED QUiTE A LOT OF CONTROVERSY HAS GONE ON ft-I t THE PAST ABOUT ITS USE IN WARTIME H ER WE MUST REST 'NOT SO MUCH ON PRECEDENT AS ON THE UNPRECEDENTED CONDITION Or THE MOOt N WORLD IN A NUCLEAR AGE ACTION ASSICiN O TO '-- o o rcc • o r -1cr svweoc L t JI -- - i -- - - UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED TOP SECRET I -2- 222308z OCTOBER WHITE HOUSE MESSAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WORDS OR IN KIND OR BOTH IF HE CONTENTS HIMSELF WITH THE FIRST HE MAY DEMAND THE REMOVAL OF ALL AMERICAN BASES IN EUROPE IF HE DECIDED TO ACT HE MAY DO SO EITHER IN THE CARIBBEAN OR ELSEWHERE IF HE REACTS IN THE CARIBBEAN HIS OBVIOUS METHOD WOULD BE TO ESCORT HIS SHIPS AND FORCE YOU INTO THE POSITION OF ATTACKING THEM THIS FIRE-FIRST DILEMMA HAS ALWAYS WORRIED US AND WE HAVE ALWAYS HOPED TO IMPALE THE RUSSIANS ON THIS HORN NO DOUBT YOU HAVE THOLGHT OF THIS BUT WOULD BE GLAD TO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL IT CAN BE HANDLED ALTERNATIVELY HE MAY BRING SOME PRESSURE ON THE WEAKER PARTS OF THE FREE WORLD DEFENSE SYSTEM THIS MAY BE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIAi IN RAN POSSIBLY IN TURKEY BUT MORE LIKELY IN BERLIN IF HE REACTS OUTSIDE THE CARIBBEAN - AS I FEAR HE MAY - IT WILL BE TEMPTING FOR HIM TO ANSWER ONE BLOCKADE BY DECLARING ANOTHER WE MUST THEREFORE BE READY ANY RETALIATORY ACTION ON BERLIN AS ENVISAGED IN THE VARIOUS CONTINGENCY PLANS WILL LEAD US EITHER TO AN ESCALATION TO WORLD WAR OR TO THE OLDING Cf A CONFERENCE WHAT SEEMS TO BE ESSENTIAL IS THAT YOU AND I SHOULD THINK OVER AND DECIDE IN WHAT DIRECTION WE WANT TO STEER THINGS WITHIN THE ALLIANCE AND ELSEWHERE WE SHOULD TAKE COUNSEL AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE RUSSIAN REACTION WHILE YOU KNOw HO« DEEPLY I SYMPATHIZE WITH YOUR DIFFICULTY AND HOW MUCH WE WILL DO TO HELP IN EVERY WAY IT WOULD ONLY BE RIGHT TO TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE TWO ASPECTS WHICH GIVE ME CONCERN MANY OF US IN EUROPE HAVE LIVED SO LONG IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE ENEMYrs NUCLE R WEAPONS OF THE MOST DEVASTATING KIND THAT WE HAVE GOT ACCUSTOMED TO IT SO EUROPEAN OPINION WILL NEED ATTENTION THE SECOND WHICH IS MORE WORRYING IS THAT IF KHRUSHCHEV COMES TO A CONFERENCE HE WILL OF COURSE TRY TO TRADE HIS CUBA POSITION AGAINST HIS AMBITIONS IN BERLIN AND ELSEWHERE THIS WE MUST AVOID AT ALL COSTS AS IT WILL ENDANGER THE UNITY OF THE ALLIANCE TH WARM REGARD HAROLQ MACMILLAN JT 21 TOP SECRET NOTE Handled as Eyes Only per SS 10 2-62 CWO-M UNCLASSIFIED