Memorandum, Legislative Program Discussion with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, President Harry S. Truman , Vice President Alben W. Barkley, Senator Scott Lucas, and Congressman John W. McCormack

202 for 93 SECRET Br March 28, 1949 ARCHIVES 3. *MATIONAL SERVICE" RECORDS AND BIG FOUR DISCUSSION ON LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM This morning as arranged, I met with the President, Vice President, Senator Lucas and Majority Leader MeCormack. Speaker Rayburn was absent. The following matters were discussed: (1) Approximate Time of Senate Action on Atlantie Pact The Senate 1s planning to take up some appropriation bills, the Trade Agreements Act, the Housing Act, and then the repeal of the Taft-Hartley law. It is estimated that the last of these will take approximately three weeks. The whole calendar may take longer than is expected, and one or two other matters may come into it. It is not thought that the Senate would be ready to take up the Pact on the floor before the middle of May, and perhaps later. It is also contemplated that the hearings on the Pact may be extensive. There is some discussion about permitting such Senators as wish to participate to sit with the Committee and produce witnesses. This will be a tirse-consuming procedure. Both Committee procedure and the Senate calendar therefore look as though it will be well into, and possibly late in May before the Pact is reached. (2) Committee Reference for the ITO Bm It was the President's opinion, concurred in by all present, that the ITO matter should go before the Congress in the form of two bills, one authorizing US participation in TTO and the other providing for the necessary changes in US domestic legislation. It was also the concensus of opinion that the first of these bills should be referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The second bill would probably go to the Ways and Means Committee and the Finance Committee. DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (B) 7-23-75 SECRET Dept. of State letter, By NLT- HC NARS Date 4-21-76