Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Paul Hoffman, William C. Foster, and Henry Labouisse

TOP SECRET Extra DEPARTMENT OF STATE 288 Memorandum of Conversation 31 DATE: Januery 83, 1950. SUBJECT: Mr. Boffmen's trip to Paris. Corf PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Paul Hoffman, Adrinistretor of ECA Villian G. Foster, Deputy Administrator of ECA Henry R. BIA DECLASSIFIED COPIES TO: B/S STATE DEPT. MEMO. f.1.ty EUR E Project NLT $2.4 BIA TA By NLT- He NARS, Date f.11.LY ME 1-1493 Hofimen said thet, in spite of the regent Britich suggestione coonerning his trip to Europe, he ie planning to leave tomorrow evening for Paris. The main purpose of his trip in a tacticel one so that he oan speak from first hand and recent experiende when he appeare before the Congressional Committees. A segona and very confidential purpose is to endeavor to emooth thinge over between Berrimen and Gripps. The conversation then turned to the Brank natter. The Secretary stated that he bad informed Bir Qliver Pranks that be did not consicer it appropriate for nis to eak Spank to withdraw hie candidroy. Mr. Hoffmen TRUMAN reported that he hed told 31r Oliver the sate thing lest night, adding that in e. much es ve had not originally RECORDS put Spaok* a name formard we dic not think it was up to C.S. us to esk him to withdrew. Both the Scoretery and Nr. Hoffren had etated to Six Oliver, hovever, that we still believed that forgerul politioal leadernhip was required for the OEEO. Mr. lioffmen also stated to the Britien Asbascador that be considered it an unfortunate turn of evente for the Britimb to oppore en indivicuel simply because he hed made some critical statement about the UK and ite policies with respect to Europe. (Thie referred to Speat's recent article in a London nevepaper.) Suoh en attitude would more imposible any agreement among the OFEG gountries. EOP SECRE The