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

10/ SECKER 68 = March 3, 1952 MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION Participants: Secretary of Defense Lovett Mr. Acheson Mr. Lovett called Mr. Acheson this afternoon regarding the proposed message to President Syngman Rhee on the question of the personal representative of the President to deliver that message. Mr. Lovett said that Mr. Murphy had cálled him before lunch and said that the President wanted to know the JCS views on the matter. Mr. Lovett had the JCS consider it at their two o'clock meeting this afternoon and they have reached the following conclusions: a 1. They consider message from the President to Sygnman Rhee appropriate. 2. They have no comments on the detàils of the message which they regard as purely political. 3. They prefer a non-military man as personal representative and think it would be a mistake to use an active five-star admiral for this purpose for the following reasons: a. They are afraid rumors will start about impending action against China or something of that sort. They also fear that it will be interpreted as an indication that truce negotiations have broken down. b. They think it will be very hard to explain publicly. (Mr. Acheson agreed this was a difficult problem.) C. Admiral Nimitz would need extensive briefing here in Washington before he could make the trip. DECLASSIFIED Cage Mr. Lovett E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) STATE 5-42.76 OSD letter, WLT 78.48 By NLT- HC NARS Date 12.5.78 << SEORES INFORMATION