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

411 enfo 90 DECLASSIFTED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 3(D) of (E) 5-12-26 ESCRET Dept.. of State letter, Aug 1073 By MLT- HC NARS Deto6676 ARCHIVE$ s RECORDS NAYIONAL AND April 3, 1951 SERVICH* Memo randum of Telephone Conversations Subject: The McClellan Resolution on Troops to Europe The Secretary telephoned Mr. Lovett during the 9:30 meeting about what in his opinion should be done on the Senate Resolution on troops to Europe. He said Mr. H rriman, who was at the meeting, would see the President at 10 o'clock. The Secretary said their view was that it would be dbetter to bring the business to a close and we should, therefore, do everything we could to prevent the Resolution being recommitted where It would drag on. We would take the position that this approves what we should do in the near future and let the longer future take care of itself. Mr. Lovett soid their view is somewhat the same and that if it goes back to Committee it will be likely to come out in worse form. He said their feeling was to let nature take its course on the floor and try to limit the move to recommit. Mr. Harriman then spoke with Mr. Lovett and inquired if the McClellan Resolution would be a problem as far as sending small units, and Mr. Lovett indicated they were not quite clear on just where it did leave them. Mr. Lovett called the Secretary again in a few minutes to say that one of his people reported that Senator McMahon believes be might be able to get the language of the Resolution changed a little and get a favorable re-vote on it. He was inquiring for advise from Defense on this. The Secretary and Mr. Lovett agreed that they couldn't tell McMahon not to go ahead if he thought he could get a revision, but they were doubtful that this could be accomplished, and feared something worse might come of it. Mr. Harriman telephoned the Secretary about 10:20 to say he had talked briefly with the President about the matter and the President 1a of the same opinion he was last night. He feels he