Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Foreign Minister of Australia Richard G. Casey

or SECRE SECURITY IN URMATION 251 FIRST ANZUS COUNCIL MEETING Kaneohe, T.H. 123 August 4, 1952 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION Participants: Secretary Acheson Foreign Minister Casey of Australia During his call on Secretary Acheson Sunday evening, Foreign Minister Casey asked the Secretary what he wanted done at this conference. The Secretary said he thought it was a matter of discussing problems which we face throughout the world. These issues needed to be thoroughly discussed and considered and it was highly desirable that this ANZUS meeting not get bogged down on problems of organization and liaison arrangements. If the Australians wanted real contact with the American Gov- ernment and its thinking on world problems, it was highly de- sirable that they keep in touch with the Department of State and not continue to attempt to establish themselves in liaison with the Pentagon. The Secretary said that officers of the rank that would be in touch with most ANZAC liaison officers were not the ones who had much to do with making policy. With particular regard to Pacific defense and its problems, the real planning was being done by Admiral Radford and his staff here in Hawaii, and that if the Australians and New Zealanders really wanted contact with the military planning operation, this was the place for it. Planning on other matters was really done by the State Department, and the Australians and New Zealanders should stick with their present contacts with the Department. The Secretary said his instructions were absolute and there was no possibility of any change in them during the course of the present conference. It simply was not possible for them to expect any greater access to the Pentagon. If the ANZUS meeting got through the organizational steps in good order, the Secretary would present a total picture that would give them plenty to think about and work on. The Secretary said that he realized that many Australians and New Zealanders had the impression that DECLASSIFIED STATE DEPT. LTR. 5-5-f3 FOP SECRET Project NLT f2-4 SECURITY UNIVIAL By NLT- He NARS, Date 6-1543