Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Congressman James Richards

864 THINK ARCHIVES NATIONAL AND RECORDS 190 to SERVICE July 11, 1951 MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION Participants: Congressman James P. Richards Mr. Acheson At 2:20 this afternoon, Congressman Richards telephoned Mr. Acheson regarding the letters which the President had sent up on the termination of the state of war with Germany. He said that one portion of the proposed termination provided for the state of war to end at a date designated by the President in a proclamation. Mr. Richards felt that this might cause a problem on the Floor in that some Members would feel that the prerogative of the Congress was interfered with by this provision. The Congressman said that this was not included in the resolution terminating the first world war and he saw no necessity for it this time. Mr. Acheson agreed to look into the matter and call the Congressman back within a few minutes. After checking with Mr. Raymond of the Department and Mr. Murphy of the White House, the Secretary called the Congressman again and told him that the provision was put in due to the confusion which resulted at the end of the first world war as to the date and time when the war ended. The Secretary explained that there were legal problems involved and that in the case of the first world war there were two resolutions and a proclamation issued by the President and great confusion resulted as to the date when the war actually ended. The Secretary explained that the President had every intention of issuing his proclamation at the time he signed the resolution which Congress was asked to pass. Mr. Acheson said that the provision was included for these reasons and not, as he had previously thought, because of the desire to concert with other countries action ending the state of war. He said that we had coordinated our action with other DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, 5/3/76 Bar. NLT H NARS Data 6.25.06