Cabinet Meeting Minutes

copy NATIONAL ARCHIVES RECORDS Notes on Cabinet Meeting, Friday, September 12, 1952 l. Under Secretary Foley - he secured the signature of the President on an order for some refunding due October first. Stated he wanted to an- nounce the order "at the close of the market today." Then he mentioned some West Virginia appointments in which Senator Neely is interested. 2. Secretary Lovett. (a) No real prospect for Korean armistice. It would require re- treat on issues which we cannot afford to make. The President said, "No, of course we can't. Mr. Lovett: "If we stay firm we can tear them up by air. We are gaining in strength and ar e hurting them badly." The communists are taking an "awful pasting;" the score is about eight to one in favor of our Sabre-jets VS. the MIGs. "...If we keep on, tearing the place apart, we can make it a most unpopular affair for the North Koreans. We ought to go right ahead. 11 (b) On production - in July we hit our targets - 838 planes more in one month than total Korean losses since the beginning, etc. (c) Discussed the rotation system in Korea and said it is cost- ing about 4 billion per year. This year there will be a l million man turnover in the Armed Services due to the 24-month rule. Except for en- listments all who have been in for 24 months must be out and replaced. That, plus the rotation problem, is a terrific load and a terrific ex- pense. (d) Mentioned General Hershey and his speeches about drafting fathers. Lovett: "It simply is not, I repeat, NOT, so. We have 50,000 in the pool, and there is no need whatever of drafting fathers or of talking about drafting fathers (unless for headline getting) unless some unforeseen emergency arises. We will soon announce this and will check the statement with you (The President) before making it. If (e) Atomic energy construction has been lagging but is now pick- ing up. There have been 57 strikes at Paducah. Discussion of strike situation followed involving Joe Fowler, John Steelman and Assistant Secretary of Labor Galvin. Decided to call on Joe Keenan to assist. Also, that the Secretary of Labor would talk with some of the Building Trades International Presidents, realizing that Dick Gray is SO bitter and antagonistic there is no use to call on him. 3. The Attory General "Nothing, Mr. President." 4. The Postmaster General - discussed briefly the "Anna Rosenberg show" of the day before. 5. Under Secretary of Interior - mentioned coal negotiations and said Department has plans to hold and allot all coal above ground unless settle- ment is announced by the 18th. The agreement ends (and presumably the strike would begin) on September 20.