Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Under Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett

NLT 815 381 conf 330 for December 3, 1950 MEMORANDUM (Nov 30,1950) CONCE The Secretary saw Mr. Lovett on Thursday afternoon, November 30, at the Secretary's request. Following the meeting, he talked to several people in the Department about it. He said that he had told Mr. Lovett it was essential that action be taken immediately to determine where we went in light of the present Korean crisis. He suggested a meeting the following morning at which General Smith, Mr. Harriman, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Marshall and Mr. Lovett, as well as certain people in the Department, would be present. The purpose was to take up questions left over from the last meeting of this group. The Secretary said that it was imperative that we get a program immediately. He said that we could expect a veto not later then Monday of the six power resolution presented before the Security Council. (I was called out during the course of the meeting and informed that the resolution had been vetoed that afternoon, which I reported back to the group). The Secretary told Mr. Lovett that the first step was to stop the Chinese. He said that there was no use discussing anything else unless we could do that. He pointed out that our troops were at present badly dispersed in Korea. He said we must find a place which was suita ble and hold it. We should then try to get sanctity to that position, a sanctity which would be aided by the passage of time. He said we must get our allies together and put all the backbone we could in them. He pointed out we must have a program in order to do this. The Secretary said we must try to maintain the position at as little cost as possible. Mr. Lovett mentioned the possibility of a cease fire resolution. It was pointed out there were many very nervous DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, aseca NLY 77-3y TOF-SEONET By NT.T. He NAPS Date 12:6-77