Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, President Harry S. Truman, and Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies

NLT 797 Tor SECRET DEPARTMENT OF STATE 23 Memorandum of Conversation DATE: July 28, 1950 SUBJECT: Aid to Korea PARTICIPANTS: 213 The President; Prime Minister Robert Menzies of Australia; Secretary Acheson DECLASSIFIED COPIES TO: E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and F.R.OF U.S. 1950 UOL. VII Dept. of State letter, Aug. 9, Bx NLT- NC e NARS Date 8.7.7 1-1493 The President received Mr. Menzies at 3:30 pame Theinter- view, including the photographs, lasted approximately one hour. The discuasion opened with general conversation on non-business subjects. The Prime Minister then ratsed the question of Australlan defense and the sending of Australlan ground forces to Korea. He said that Australla was wholeheartedly behind American policy and wished to play its full part in the defense of the free world. To do so Australia would have to increase its defense forces substantially. This ro- s. quired legialative changes. Australia also wished to send ground : RECORDS AND forces to support the United Nations in Korea. At present, however, SERVICE* it had no forces available. Cut of the 2,000 troops in Japan only about to 500 were combat troogs and these had been enlisted only for service in Japan. The Prime Minister expected promptly upon his return to attack the whole broad subject. He did not think it advisable to confuse the broader Issue by attacking first of all the problem of forces for Korea. He wished to get through a universal service bill and to re- move restrictions upon the place of service since it was highly likely that in the event of general war Australian troops might be needed in the Near East and in the Far Easti beyond areas where service was 202 scress