Memorandum from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to President Harry S. Truman

DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 37-23-75 5(D) or (B) 197 78 ARCHIVE& MATIONAL AND Dept. of State letter, Adg.2.1973 RECORDA By NLT- He ; NARS Date 4-20-76 March 14, 194 SERY the SECRET FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM SECRETARY ACHESON: conf You will recall the discussion at a recent Cabinet luncheon concerning the expected request for visas for a cultural and scientific conference for world peace sponsored by Harlow Shapley's National American Council of the Arts, Sciences and Professions. Discussion at the luncheon indicated that-most of the individuals being invited would be Communist and the preliminary view of the group was at that time that we should not object to the entry of persons concerned to attend this particular conference. 20 Official requests have now been received for approximately visas. We have considered the problem in a very careful manner and from a propaganda point of view we believe the following course of action will be best: We will grant the Soviet delegation of six, the Czechoslovak delegation of five and the Rumanian delegation of two, official visas carrying no diplomatic privileges. These visas will be valid only for the purposes of the con- ference. Reason we are planning to refuse the visa request from the Hun- - u.s. garian Government for a delegation of five is recent expulsion of Minister. 1 Remaining requests are not of an official Governmental nature but are re- quests by private individuals. It is our intention to refuse these visas. A positive finding that their admission is in the national interest would be necessary and I do not believe that such a finding is justified. Basic reason for our granting visas to Soviet, Czechoslovak and Rumanian delegations is my belief that we should be willing to meet Communists in open debate on issues involved. If we refuse, belief SECKET