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52. [McCone], “Memorandum of Meeting attended in Secretary Ball’s Conference Room... at 0830. 17 October” ‘ Memorandum of Meeting attended in Secretary Ball's Conference Room % by Secretary McNamara, Bundy, General Taylor, Robert Kennedy, Martin and McCone of 330,77 OcELiw, fej {o 1. Meeting involved an inclusive exploration of alternatives open to us in connection with the Cuban matter. Ball seemed to feel military action would throw the NATO allies in disarray and permit Britain and France to separate from us on Berlin policy. Stated Kohler discussions with Khrushchev did not fit in with Soviet action in Cuba. Suggested Cuban situation might be by inadvertance . Suggested we might give Khrushchev an "out" on the grounds that he does not know what is going on in Cuba and discussed various types of action ranging from a limited military strike to minimize losses to wx the calling of a Summit conference. 2, During the discussion Taylor and Ball speculated as to whether this whole thing was not a "mock up" designed to draw out action by us. and that the war heads were not there. This view was not supported. 3. McNamara urged avoiding taking a position, considering all alternatives, with meetings this afternoon and this evening in preparation | of final discussion with the President tomorrow. ¥ 4, Urged exploration of all facts and listed the following: About 50 or 60 MIG 17s and 19s now in Cuba and these apparently have no offensive capability. One MIG 21 has been seen and a number of suspicious crates also seen indicating some MIG 21 capability and we do not know whether the MIG 21 bas an offensive capability. IL 28's have been delivered Three MRBM sites under construction and can be ready in two weeks Warhead locations unknown; also unknown whether MRBM's are nuclear or conventional. Also feels that if nuclear warheads supplied them Soviet will also supply nuclear bombs for bombers with offensive capability