Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Ambassador James Bruce

CONFIDENTIAL mini 614 125 April 14, 1949. TENNIN MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION ARCHIVES 'NATIONAL RECORDS AND WITH AMBASSADOR JAMES BRUCE SERVICEN Ambassador Bruce ealled at his request. He soid that he had two things which he wished to mention to me. The first one related to representation allowances for diplomatic representatives in the field, other than the Ambassador. He felt that these vere wholly inadequate. He spoke of allovances in the neighborhood of $100 a year which represented all the funds available for our repre- sentatives in such places as Santos and othr large centers, to say nothing of the officers in the Embassies below the Ambas ador. He thought that funds provided for this purpose would do much more than far greater sums spent on projects, etc. He S id that he had talked with Mr. Peurifoy or Mr. Hall and that in Mr. Bruce's view between two and three million dollars added to the appropriation would take eare of this matter throughout the Service. Mr. Bruce had talked to Congressman Rooney and Benator Chavez. He thought that if the Department vould give him the green light he could get the funds added in the Benate. I told Ambassador Bruce that what he said sounded very sensible and desirable to me. But I did not know the technieal situation. I would talk with the Under Secretary and Mr. Peurifoy and get in touch with him. The second matter related to his own position as Ambassador. He told me that he had written to the Presi- dent in November tendering his resignation as Ambassador and saying that this was not a formal matter but that he really wished to return to this country to attend to his own affairs and do such jobs here for the President as the President might wish. He thought that he should not continue to hold the post of Ambassador any longer. When he saw the President tomorrow, he was going to ask him to accept his resignation. He felt that he vould be subject to criticism if he continued to be Ambassador and did not perform the duties of Ambassador. He had thought of returning DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) CONFIDENTIAL Dept. of State letter, 202325 Ba MLT. He : NARS Date 4.21.76