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TOP SECRET DEPARTMENT OF STATE COPY NO. OF 6 COPIES Memorandum of Conversation DATE: November 28, 1950 SUBJECT: Notes on NSC Meetings November 28th, 3:00 PM 327-a . The White House PARTICIPANTS: The President Secretary Acheson The Vice President Mr. Matthews General Marshall Mr. Rusk General Bradley Mr. Nitze Mr. Frank Pace Mr. Jessup General Collins COPIESXTOK General Vandenberg Secretary Snyder Mr. Finletter Mr. Averell Harriman Mr. Lay Mr. Stuart Symington Mro Lovett Copies to: Mr. Matthews Mr. Rusk Admiral Sherman General Bedell Smith Mr. Nitzé 1-1493 THE PRESIDENT asked Secretary Acheson if he had any comments to make. SECRETARY ACHESON said he had been on the Hill all day and would rather hear about the military situation first from General Marshall and General Bradleye GENERAL BRADLEY sketched the military situation on the mape He said that the questions which were now before us involved MacArthur's message that we were now facing a new war and whether a new directive should be issued to hime The JCS think no new directive is needed now although it may be after 48 or 72 hours had elapsedo, MacArthur will be taking a defensive position pending UN action. It is desirable to wait for clarification. The country from which the enemy is launching its present attack is extremely mountainous with few roads and they may have trans- portation difficulties in sustaining it. Perhaps a little later we may wish to issue a new directive as executive agent or secure one from the UN. There are some 300 aircraft back in Manchuria, including 200 two-engine bombers. They could strike a severe blow. The JCS do not think we should violate the border pending developments. Our airfields, both in Korea and Japan, are crowded and we are depending heavily on an airlift. Our fields are therefore very vulnerable. So are our road convoyse One enemy plane DECLASSIFIED dropped E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, Regard 3-18-27 PROJECT By MLT. HV. NLT 76.22 KARS Date 3:2f.77 TOP SECRE