Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Ambassador Lewis Douglas

190 630 CONFIDENTIAL July 12,1949 ARCHIVES € and "NATIONAL RECORDS AND JULY SERVICE** MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION Participants: Ambassador Douglas (in London) Secretary Acheson I talked with Ambassador Douglas about his availability during the next two months for appearances before Congressional com- mittees and for talks with the British. He said he was just now having a conference with the doctors and, as it looked at that moment, the following is his schedule: (He will send me a further telegram about this.) 1. He is definitely planning to have the operation in England. 2. The operation for cataract is planned for August 6 or 7. Following that, he will be completely laid up for two weeks, or until August 22. From August 22 until September 5 he will be able to do some work, starting with about two hours a day and increasing the amount throughout that period. At the end of that time, he hopes to be able to carry a greater load than he is carrying at this time. 3. This means that he will obviously not be able to take any personal participation in the MAP hearings since the doctors in England do not wish him to leave their care in order to return to the United States. 4. He would hope to be able to join in any discussions with the British in Washington about September 7. I said I did not know exactly when they would commence but thought the plan was about the first of September. That was the Ambassador's impression. I said I thought we could probably arrange it so that he could participate in them since I thought it was of great importance that he do so. In this connection, Ambassador Douglas said that he was preparing a cable which would be ready in a two or three days, one DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) .or (E) Dept. of State letter, Aug.9,1973 12-15-25 CONFIDENTIAL By NLT- HC : NARS Date 4.27.26