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

ma for SEGNE 47 December 15, 1950 358 MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH UNDER SECRETARY LOVETT Mr. Lovett telephoned Mr. Acheson to report on the talk yesterday between himself, Secretary Marshall and General Eisenhower. He said the following points emerged: 1. General Eisenhower was very unhappy at what he assumedwas an effort on the part of the British and our Navy to remove the Mediterranean forces and the North Sea forces from the command of the Supreme Commander. The problem was removed from his mind, however, by the statement of the Joint Chiefs that they would recommend that every American soldier and sailor in that area be placed under him in case of need. 2. He was much concerned about the efforts of the countries in their own self-defense. He thought it ut- terly ridiculous to have contributions measured in thirds of divisions, such as 2-1/3 divisions from Canada. That sort of penny-pinching made their efforts look quite hopeless. Mr. Lovett had advanced the suggestion that TROMAN what was actually needed was an individual to rally round ARCHIVES s **NATIONAL SERVICE" RECORDE AND rather than a committee. That idea appealed to Eisenhower, and he thought that if we could get the Europeans going E whole-heartedly a job could be done. 3. Eisenhower thought the crux of the matter was not the French, since they could be handled in a variety of ways, such as breaking up the German outfits into smaller units and attaching them to American groups for the time being. But the Germans are the crux. If we are going to fight east of the Rhine and if the Germans do not want to fight, this is an extremely bad situation. 4. With reference to mobilization and size of forces, Eisenhower feels, as do the Joint Chiefs, that we ought to have a good, solid combat force with immediate expan- sion possibilities, rather than the vague idea that a lot of bodies give you an army. The state of readiness is what counts. He thought we ought to be prepared to throw in ten divisions to give impetus, but only after the Europeans show whole-hearted efforts in self-defense. DECLASSIFIED STATE LTR 8.7.79 E. C. 12065 DEF. LTR. 6-18-79 SEEME By NLTTHC NARS, Date 8-7-79