Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett

44 344 FOP of December 6, 1950 MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CALL Participants: Mr. Lovett Mr. Acheson Mr. Acheson called Mr. Lovett at 1:15 p.m. and said that they were going to resume talks with Mr. Attlee this afternoon at 3:30 on Europe and European defense. He said that there would be a row with the British on the views that we are taking with the French to encourage them to solve the problem. This will get us into the question of the Supreme Commander. We would say that the American position is that in this critical situation if the French agree in principle so that we can get on with German rearmament, then we ought to be able to appoint the Supreme Commander. In this connection Mr. Acheson wanted to clarify with Mr. Lovett exactly what the JCS comments meant in the memo- randum of December 4 which contained their comments. This memorandum said that they had seen the paper prepared for the Attlee talks and they perceived no objection, subject to the following: -- Mr. Acheson then read the two objections which the paper set out. In connection with the language in (b) in which the JCS said that in regard to an earlier appointment of the Supreme Commander they would be prepared to consider such an appointment when the North Atlantic treaty organization reached agreement on German rearmament, Mr. Acheson said this raised two ideas. The first was that they would be prepared to consider, and the other was thert the phrase when the North Atlantic treaty organization reached agreement on German rearmament. He said that we will probably reach agreement on German rearmament with the French by the end of this week. At this point Mr. Lovett asked whether we had sent out the letter to Mr. Schuman proposed in Ambassador Bruce's telegram. thinks DECLASSIFIED RECORDS 15 SERVICE- E STATE GUIDELINE 6:/2:79 E By NARS, Date 10-25-71 1