EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 10/25/1962 -- 10:00 A.M. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R001900100027-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: October 25, 1962
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2004/ CIA-RpP80B01676R001900100027-4
October 25, 1962
MEMORANDUM FOR THE FILE
SUBJECT: Executive Committee Meeting 10/25/62 -- 10:00 a.m.
All Members present.
McCone reported on intelligence, reviewing summary of
25 October, including penciled memorandums as indicated, plus
Cline memorandum of 25 October on talks with
and the Watch Report of same date.
I called special attention to the BELOVODSK.a, reported
on Page 11-5 and the searching of
as reported on page IV-2. Also the shipping schedule.
McNamara reported that at 7:00 o'clock a destroyer inter-
cepted the tanker BUCHAREST which responded destination was
Havana, cargo was petroleum and the BUCHAREST was permitted
to proceed under surveillance. He stated that no United States Navy
ships had orders to board. He recommended orders be issued to
immediately board Bloc ships and then the BUCHAREST be boarded.
Decision was reached that Navy be instructed to board the next Soviet
ship contacted which would be the GROZNY, a tanker but which was
carrying a deck load which might be missile field tanks. Later in
the meeting decision was reached not to board the BUCHAREST.
Contact was to be made with the GROZNY as early as possible and
that was estimated to be about 8:00 o'clock in the evening, Friday,
October 26th.
McNamara recommended several recurring low-level
surveillance strikes of multiple aircraft in an operation that would
resemble an air strike. Believe the Soviets stood down Cuban air,
camouflaging SAM sites, husbanding COMOR vessels, ordering
subs not to engage in active conflict, ordered more reports from
maritime vessels. McNamara indicated that
NSA review(s) completed.
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It was the Secretary's
opinion that since all of these were indicators of some indecision on
the part of the Soviets, that we should pursue low-level surveillance
in the interests of gathering intelligence, simulating air attack,
demonstrating our intention to watch construction, familiarizing
ourselves with camouflage and to determine whether the Soviets are
building additional sites. This recommendation was approved and
8 sorties were ordered immediately to cover the nine missile sites,
the IL 28 site, the MIG 21 airfield, and the nuclear storage sites and
the COMOR missile ship sites. It was decided this reconnaissance
should not be announced but, if questioned, we should refer to the
President's statement.
McCone then noted the number of ships in the Eastern Atlantic
and in the Baltic and Mediterranean which had turned back. Dillon
asked about ships in the Pacific. The President asked whether Soviet
ships bound elsewhere than Cuba had changed course. McCone said
he would report on this in the afternoon.
There was a further discussion of the policy of stopping or
hailing non-Bloc ships. It was decided that all ships must be hailed.
Rusk raised the question of discussions with the United Nations.
Draft of U. S. reply to the U Thant letter was approved with modifica-
tions. It was agreed at the meeting that we must insist upon the re -
moval of missiles from Cuba in addition to demands that construction
be stopped and that UN inspectors be permitted at once.
Bundy reviewed Khrushchev letter to the President of the
24th of October and the Kennedy reply. McNamara raised the
question of accelerating or raising the escalation of the actions we
have so far taken, expressing concern over the plateau, indicating
determination to meet our ultimate objective of taking out the missile
sites .
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