868.00/3–147
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)
The British Ambassador called at my request. I read him the two Aide-Mémoire dated March 1,1 attached hereto.
I stressed two points: First, that we could not commit the Congress but that we were working very hard to get a favorable expression of Congressional opinion; second, that we wished to be sure that the British would continue to support the integrity of the Governments concerned with all possible efficacy. The Ambassador said that he hoped that we did not seriously believe that the British Government would do otherwise. I told him that I did not entertain such belief, but since this was a matter of the utmost seriousness for us we wished clear assurances.
In the afternoon the Ambassador telephoned me to inquire exactly what was meant by the second note’s suggestion of discussions about other areas. I said that the purpose of this was to compare notes on what other situations might develop and to ascertain the intentions and capabilities of the two Governments in regard to them. He expressed satisfaction with this explanation and the foresight of the request.
- Infra.↩