Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Senator Alexander Smith, and Jack McFall

app a SCURE DEPARTMENT OF STATE - Memorandum of Conversation 305 DATE: November 30, 1949 SUBJECT: Senator Alexander Smith's Observations re Far Eastern Developments. CHAIR PARTICIPANTS: Senator Alexander Smith The Secretary ARCHIVES "NATIONAL RECORDS AND Conf H - Mr. McFall . SERVICE" COPIES TO: G - Mr. Rusk FE - Mr. Butterworth s/A - Dr. Jessup A - Mr. Hulten S/P - Mr. Kennan 1-1493 Senator Smith opened the conversation by stating that he had come to see the Secretary just to give him the benefit of some observations that he felt quite strongly about in connection with Far Eastern developments. He first made reference to what he considered to be a "divided military authority in the Far East. " It was pointed out that General MacArthur had com- plete control of both the economic and military problems in Japan and the surrounding islands and that the U.S. Navy was apparently in control in China, and in his and several other's opinions this provoked a state of affairs that was most undesirable and inefficient. The Senator did not appear to be too clear in his own mind as to what he thought should be done, but the Secretary gave him to understand that we had no military control of any kind in China now (the Navy having withdrawn) and that any military decisions affecting China rest in the Pentagon Building. The Secretary told Senator Smith that we were giving con- sideration to the possibility of establishing an ambassador-at-large somewhere in the general area of the Far East who might be used to tie in loose ends and serve as a focal point for representing our interest in that area. It was emphasized, however, that no decision had been made on this subject as yet. The Senator next expressed his serious concern about the disadvantages that would accrue to the United States in the recognition of China. He stated that it was his considered opinion that the ground for the current Chinese development had been laid in Russia as long as 20 years ago and that the Russians had worked assiduously DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (B) Dept. of State letter, Aug. 2.28.75 9, 1973, By NLT HC NARS Date 5-476 SECHED