Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of the Netherlands S. Herman van Roijen, and Joseph W. Scott

8088 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 421 Memorandum of Conversation 153 DATE: June 20, 1951 : D SUBJECT: Miscellaneous Matters conf PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary WE - Mr. Scott Ambassador van Roijen of the Netherlands COPIES TO: S EUR WE Amembassy, The Hague u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16--61120-1 Ambassador van Roljen called at his request to discuss a few matters before his return to The Hague for a two months' visit. He began by referring to the current hearings in Congress and said he believed that the net effect of these in Europe had been good. He thought the hearings had not only served to clarify a number of issues but had also shown a considerable degree of agreement in this country on a number of basic points in our foreign policy. I told hin a trans- cript was being prepared on the discussions regarding China and that I would send him copies for himself and for Dr. Stikker. The Ambassador next asked what news we had had from Paris regard- ing the Buropean Army confernce. I told him I had recently talked with Mr. McCloy about this and he believed that now that the French elections were over it would be possible for the French to reach decisions on this more rapidly. It now appe red entirely possible that a European Army could be developed which would become a part of the Atlantic forces. The Ambassador next asked what the prospects were for a meeting of the four foreign ministers. I told him we had just learned that Gromyko had asked for a meeting of the deputies today. It had been generally understood that he would not ask for another meeting until he had received instructions from Moscow. His calling it now might mean DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 3(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, 5-12-15 Bar NIHE NARS D246.25.76