Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Great Britain Sir Oliver Franks, Sir Roger Makins, Robert Scott, Dean Rusk, and Philip Jessup

SECRET TOP SECRET COPY NO. / DEPARTMENT OF STATE OF 9 COPIES Memorandum of Conversation DATE: December 4, 1950 6:30 PM SUBJECT: Truman-Attlee Talks 341 PARTICIPANTS: Sir Oliver Franks, British Ambassador Sir Roger Makins Mr. Robert Scott The Secretary Mr. Jessup COPIES TO: Mr. Rusk The Secretary Mr. Perkins Mr. Matthews Mr. Nitze Mr. Rusk 1-1493 SIR OLIVER FRANKS accompanied by Sir Roger Makins and Mr. Robert Scott came to the Secretary's office for further conversation about the matter discussed between the President and Mr. Attlee. THE SECRETARY said that there was some point in Sir Oliver's summary during the meeting which he wanted to touch on and to clear up any possible confusione Sir Oliver had seemed to indicate an understanding that our position was so weak that we had to proceed on the assumption that we were licked in Korea. THE SECRETARY said that he did not take this view and it should not be treated as a foregone conclusion that we are out of Korea. THE SECRETARY then went on to develop our general thought Foreign policy in the East and in Western Europe cannot be separated. We must have a single foreign policy for both sides of the worldo He touched on the problem of American opinion, pointing out that he was not referring to vociferous extremists but to the sound judgement of reasonable people. If we surrender in the Far East, especially if this results from the action of our Allies, American opinion will be against help in the West to those who had brought about the collapse. In order to avoid this kind of reaction we must take a steadfast position in the Far East. He pointed out that he was not falling back on the qlib Catchword "my public opinion won't let me"t. He was, however, appraising an important factor, namely, the trend of general American thinking He pointed to the size of the effort here in terms of taxes, TRUMAR military authority of ARCHIVES AND "NATIONAL RECORDS kis U.S. N SERVICE" vac. 1950 PACE 1374 Initials H.C 6.24.77 FOP SEGRET