Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of the Netherlands S. Herman van Roijen, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Joseph M. A. H. Luns, George Perkins, and R. D. McClelland

so063 SECURITY INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF STATE 991 Memorandum of Conversation 272 DATE: September 10, 1952 SUBJECT: Visit of Dr. Luns, new Netherlands Minister Without Portfolio for Foreign Affairs PARTICIPANTS: Dr. J. M. A. H1 Luns, Netherlands Minister Without Portfolio for Foreign Affairs Dr. J. H. Van Roijen, Netherlands Ambassador The Secretary EUR - Mr. Perkins COPIES TO: WE - Mr. McClelland S Amembassy, The Hague EUR FE UNA RA u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 After the introductions and a kind expression by Dr. Luns of the pleasure he had in being able to call upon me, I remarked that we were somewhat intrigued by the new arrangements in the Netherlands Foreign Office. Dr. Luns responded laughingly that he was just as nuch intrigued himself. Frankly it was a "political concoction", he said, toward which he was keeping an open mind; and it would probably take a year or so to see how it worked out in practice. I asked about Dirk Stikker, and Dr. Luns, after tendering the latter's greetings, confirmed that Mr. Stikker would be going to London as their next Ambassador. Dr. Van Roijen told me that whereas Mr. Stikker still suffered from his old ailment his health was certainly no worse. On the new organization of the Foreign Ministry, Dr. Luns explained that Mr. Beyen and he would exercise equal and joint responsibility along a vertical line of authority; and should one of them have to be absent the other would be in full charge. Functionally, however, their duties would be divided laterally, with Mr. Beyen, for example, having responsibility for European affairs such as the OEEC, EDC, Schuman Plan, Council of Europe, etc. I asked about NATO, and Dr. Iuns replied that Mr. Beyen and he expected to share responsibility for NATO and Indonesia. He himself would handle UN affairs. Dr. Luns stated that it had been a "boon" to him to have spent these last three years preceeding his new job in the United States since this had given him an under- standing of U.S. views and problems which he could not otherwise have acquired. He had particularly grown to appreciate and admire the constructive work of our U.N. CLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Mission and Dept. of State letter, <0-36-79 By NLT- He NARS Dade 17-2936 EUR :WE :RDMcCle Lland :ca SEGURITY INFORMATION