Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Great Britain Sir Oliver Franks, Sir Roger Makins, Robert Scott, Dean Rusk, and Philip Jessup

TOP SECRET TOP SECRET DEPARTMENT OF STATE 8 COPY NO. TROMER Memorandum of Conversation ARCHIVES s. "NATIONAL SERVICE' RECORDS AND OF 9 COPIES DATE: is December 4, 1950 SUBJECT: 6:30 PM Truman-Attles Talks 341 PARTICIPANTS: deforate Sir Oliver Franks, British Ambassador Sir Roger Makina Mr. Robert Scott COPIES TO: The Secretary Mr. Jessup Mr. Rusk The Secretary Mr. Perkins Mr. Matthews Mr. Nitze Mr. Rusk 1-1493 SIR OLIVER FRANKS accompanied by Sir Roger Makins and Mr. Robert Scott came to the Secretary's office for further conversation about the matter discussed between the President and Mr. Attles. THE SECRETARY said that there was sose point in Sir Oliver's sunmary during the meeting which he wanted to touch on and to clear up any possible confusion. Sir Oliver had seened to indicate an understanding that our position was 30 weak that we had to proceed on the assumption that we were licked in Korea. TIO SECRETARY said that he did not take this view and it should not be treated as a foregone conclusion that we are out of Korea. THE SEGRETARY then went on to develop our general thought. Foreign policy in the East and in Teatern Turope cannot be separated. Ne must have a single foreign policy for both sides of the world. lle touched on the problem of American opinion, pointing out that he was not referring to vociferous extremists but to the sound judgement of reasonable people. If we surrender in the Far East, especially if this results from the action of our Allies, American opinion will be against help in the West to those who had brought about the collapse. In order to avoid this kind of reaction we must take a steadfast position in the Far East. He pointed out that he was not falling back on the gild catchword "ay public opinion won't let ma". He was, however, appraising an important factor, nanely, the trend of general American thinking. He pointed to the size of the effort here in terns of taxes, DECLASSIFIED by authority of ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE NEW military F.R. OF u.s. vou. un 1950 a PAGE 1374 Initials NC Date 6.24.77 TOP SECRET