YOUR BRIEFINGS OF THE NSC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03139101
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: May 23, 2025
• Document Release Date: April 24, 2025
• Case Number: F-2013-00646
• Publication Date: November 3, 1962

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Approved for Release: 2025/03/31 C03139101
3 November 1962
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR
UEVECT : Ve9tv,/ 6&440,1/41,5 01, t& J C
1. On 23 October you gave a brief intelligence report saying that
construction at the sites was continuing. Lundahl briefed on the most
recent photographs. It was at this meeting that it was left to your
discretion to consider the matter of disclosures of photos and you sent
Lundahl and Cline to New York to assist Stevenson.
At an evening meetting that day you briefed on military
developments within the WARSAW pact countriesidescribing an increased
level of Soviet military communications.
2. 6n 24 October you briefed on the continued rapid progress in the
completion of the missile sites and of the fact that 22 Soviet missile shios
were en route to Cuba.
3. On 25 October you told the Group there had been no chai.,ge in the
construction pace; you covered the Watch Commite,report�
- that Soviet armed forces were increasing state of readiness;
you described the Soviet ships ''route to Cuba carrying helicopters:aim
covered the departure of a Cubana plane from Canada to Havan.a;and also
briefed on the turn-around of 15 of the 22 Soviet ships.
At an evening meeting you briefed in detail on the
status of Soviet shipping and Canadian reaction to the crisis.
4. On 26 October, which was attended by Stevenson, you covered
the Watch Committee report which concluded that Soviet armed forces
had completed measures for an alert but that there were no significant
deployments. You OENPOIMPlirtitlermieuiaiimmitesiest continued construction
at the missile bases, estimating that it had cost the Soviet less than one-
half as much to put these in Cuba rather than build ICBM's in the USSR.,
You summarized the status of shipping and made the point that non bliaci-a.4e-,/, -eke
ships coukd carry Soviet arms. and You reviewed briefly Castr ol.,appr eh ens lye
reaction to the US quarantine,-, tit tr) 14-a r Lit" k-51,
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5. On 27 October you told the Group that three of the four MRB tVi
sites at Sam Citistobal and two sites at SagilaHgrande appeared fun y
operational and covered the latest Watch Committee report on Soviet
military developments. You described a change in the Cuban air 3.varnuw
nets which began on 26 October with the appearance of Russian procedurcs.
6. On 28 October you agreed to lend all appropriate support to
the effort to brief General Ithye at the UN. You directed that Ray
Cline participate in the draft reply to Khru h evis letter. You asRed
that Cline insure supporting your position the removal of the missile.s
should not end by giving Castro a sanctuary.
7. On 29 October you covered the following:
a. Construction continues;
b. Secure scrambler i communications between Cuba and
USSR established on 28 October. This might be the
commancontrol of missile forces;
c. Orders to Cuban military forces not to fire unless attacked
d. Soviet Embassy approach to Turks asking for promise �3 not
to use missiles;
e. The Watch Committee report was noted. There was )io switt
of change in Soviet military prepareness.
f. You mentioned the point that press stories based on special
intelligence must be prevented.
After the meeting you talked with the President and Secretary uk
emphasizing that CastrdAttleriremain in Cuba with a greater security and this
is the situation we must be careful of.
8. On 30 October you told the Group available data does not indicate
preparation for dismantling and noted continued construction of nuclear
storage bunkers. Many of the missilekerectors had been removed and
are no longer visible. You covered the shipping situation and pointed to trLe
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danger of sabotage in Latin American countries urging that all Embassrs
and consulates be alerted. You also covered the Watch Committee Re-port
which concluded that Soviet armed forces remain on alert and yot reviewed
briefly current developments in Laos, South Vietnam, and India,* Soviet
nuclear subs, and Soviet nuclear tests and you pointed out that o-6r ability
to analyze these tests had been impared by DOD withdrawal of collection
vehicles.
9. On 31 October you told the Group that there was continued evidence
of construction and concealment but noted that evidence that some of the
launchers had been moved from the MRBM sites might be construed ls,44 the
first step at dismantling. You further pointed out that photo`Ccipmpared
with those taken on Saturday and order�U to cease Were probably not lE su,3c1
until Sunday night or Monday morning. There was discussion of the
"intelligence gap" and you revZd the Cuban SNIE of 19 September, rot ng
that it failed to fully appraise eports available.
67.141
10. On 1 November you briefed on details concerning U Thant's mission
to Havana. You pointed out that Cuba robably would engage in reconnaissance
.147)t
with anti aircraft fire since they had Wthat they had developed a pattern
of reconnaissance. Evidence indicates Soviets in command and control oi
SAM system. You noted there had been no reconnaissance in Eastern Cuba
since 23 October. Decision was made at this meeting to cover Lal.c-�ti,
Julian and MRBM sites.
11. On 2 November you told the Group there was evidence that the
Soviets were dismantling missiles, but the assembly of .1.64 28 bombers
was continuing.
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