Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Secretary of the Army Frank Pace

387 DECLASSIFIED STATE GUIDELINE 6-12-79 357 6-14-99 By NLT-AL NARS, Date 10-25-79 December 14,1950 coof Secretary Acheson called Secretary Pace and said that he had looked over the question of leaving for Brussels on Saturday as Mr. Pace had suggested and found that he was not going to be able to do that. Mr. Pace said that was perfectly satisfactory with him. Mr. Acheson said that they would have Mr. Achilles in Brussels to be ready with everything from London that Mr. Pace would need. Mr. Acheson said McCloy and Spofford would be in Brussels. Ambassador Bruce probably would not be there, but the Secretary pointed out that Ambassador Bruce had not been in very close touch with this matter. Mr. Pace said that he understood that he had Mr. Acheson's proposed closing statement which he thought would be of major importance and he would look it over and have his views by the time that they got together at four o'clock tomorrow. At that time he would want to talk with Mr. Acheson about the sort of opening statement he (Mr. Face) should make before the Defense Ministers, particularly in view of the statement which the President is planning to make on Friday night. They discussed the timing of the meeting and Mr. Acheson said he thought that Pace could plan to be free Tuesday afternoon to go on to Frankfurt to meet with some of his commanders there. Mr. Pace said that Admiral Sherman and General Gruenther are returning this afternoon and will be in a position to tell the Joint Chiefs of Staff what has been accomplished at the military meeting. He said at the same time it was his understanding that General Eisenhower would be down to discuss the terms of reference and we can get his views on what he thinks about what has been done and whether in his judgment something else must still be done. Pace said he understood from Gruenther that there would be a great deal of pressure in Brussels to announce the appointment of Gen- eral Eisenhower during the meeting, and he would want to find out N from Eisenhower his general attitude on the announcement and on ARCHIVES 'NATIONAL RECORDA AND the restrictions which were placed on him. = SERVICE" Mr. Pace said that before four of (clock tomorrow afternoon he should be able to have General Eisenhower's views as to the legal and political advantages or disadvantages of moving slowly or with rapidity.