Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Great Britain Sir Oliver Franks, Kenneth Younger, Sir Roger Makins, Robert Scott, Averell Harriman, Dean Rusk, George W. Perkins, and Philip Jessup

NLT 820 #2 4023 TOP COPY NO. 19 slf DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation OF 8 COPIES M.A DATE: December 5, 1950 SUBJECT: Trunan-Attlee Talks 342 Uni ted Kinadon United States PARTICIPANTS: Sir Vliver Franks The Secretary of State Mr. Kenneth Younger Mr. Averell Barriman Sir Roger Makins Mr. Dean Rusk Mr. Robert Scott Mr. George Ferkins lr. Philip Jessup COPIES TO: Secretary Mr. Matthews Mr. Porkins Mr. Rusk Mr. Nitze Mr. Barnes 1-1493 The Secretary read aloud Paris' telegram No. 3256 (December 5th) containing the proposed letter from the Secretary to M. Schuman. He suggested that, while the Prime Minister is here, we should decide what is needed to get on with our defense forces in Europe. The emphasia will now be shifted frou Paris to Bonn. A close arrangement between Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States is needed. The point of viow indicated in the draft letter was one which had not generally appealed to the United Kingdom. We must hammer out some- thing along this line since it was the only way to get the Germans to go along. The President and the Prime Minister should get gogether on wha t we can do to nove forward. Mr. Harriman emphasized the necessity of moving rapidly. Sir Roger Nakins aoked whether this letter had been discussed with the French, and the Secretary first indicated that the French had drafted it but later said he was not informed on this but assumed this was the case. lir. Ferkins then joined the group and reported that Mr. MeCloy in a telephone conversation had urged that the letter be sent. Mr. Perkins thought the letter should include some reference to NATO. Sir Roger Makins pointed out that Ur. Bevin had recently taken a strong line in the House of Commons against the concept of the DECLASSIFIED STATE DEPT. MEMO A.L-Ly TRUMAN zuropean Project NLT +2-4 S. ARCHIVES "NATIONAL AND y NLT- He NARS, Date ANKYOP SECRET RECORDS for SERVICE"