Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Averell Harriman

945 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 112 CONTIDENTIAL March 28, 1952 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION Mr. Harriman Mr. Acheson Mr. Acheson took with him to the White House and spoke with Mr. Harriman about the question of legislation to obtain an escapee funds. This afternoon Mr. Harriman telephoned to say that he finds that there is considerable opinion in the White House and elsewhere that there should be a special request for these funds, either as Title 2 or as separate legislation to carry out the President's program in relation to foreign groups. Mr. Harriman indicated that he was also in favor of this approach based on the following considerations: 1. Mr. Harriman thought that we would be in bad shape with the Foreign Affairs Committee because when it had been discussed before, the President had said that we would come up with special legislation. Mr. Harriman said that he had had to leave in the middle of the discussion in the Foreign Affairs Committee, but he understood that it had been made clear that the previous request for use of funds was a one-time request and the Committee had granted the request on that basis and on the commitment that any further requests would be through special legislation outside of MSA.: Mr. Harriman thought that, even though special legislation probably had little chance of passing, it should be proposed and if it failed we would be in a much better position to go back to Congress and ask them again to allow the use of MSA funds for this purpose. 2. The White House advisers think that it is politically sound because of the effect on foreign groups to ask for it in separate legislation. Mr. Harriman said he agreed, since the request for funds for the purpose is basically sound. CONFIDENFIAL