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4. John A. McCone, Memorandum, “Soviet MRBMs in Cuba,” 31 October 1962 Beco arral To3- 25 pd GLa 31 October 1962 MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: Soviet MRBiMs in Cuba : 1. On August 10th at a meeting in Secretary Rusk's Conference Room attended by Rusk, Johnson, McNamara, Gilpatric, Bundy, Gen. Taylor and a number of others for the purpose of discussing General Lansdale's Phase I activities, McCone reported on the sudden importation of materiel -- at that time the characteristic: of which was unidentified -- ard Soviet personnel, and at that meeting speculated that this could be electronic equipment for use against Canavarel and/or military equipment including medium range ballistic missiles. 2. On August 2lst at a meeting in Secretary Rusk's office attended by ! the same group, McCone again reviewed the situation as it developed since August 10th, reported definite information on surface to air misgiles and again speculated on the probability of medium range i ballistic missiles. i 3. On August 22nd McCone gave the same information to the President, adding certain details concerning the number of Soviet Chinas Personnel who had recently entered Cuba as reported by 7 oy 4. On August 23rd in a meeting with the President, Rusk, McNamara, ! Gilpatric, General Taylor, Bundy and others, McCons again reviewed the | situation and questioned the need for the extensive SAM installations unless they were to make possible the concealment of MRBMs. 5. The same reasoning was applied in discussions with Senator Russell's Subcommittees, Chairman Vinson's Subcommittee and in private talk with Chairman Cannon prior to McCons's departure on August 23rd. i 6. On Saturday, August 25th, McCone urged General Carter, Acting ' DCI, to propose low level R 101 flights over certain Soviet-Cuban j installations in order to obtain detailed technical information. 13