867N.01/6–2248

Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)1

At 2:40 today, in accordance with instructions from the Secretary, I called Clark Clifford at the White House and reverted to the matter of the appointment of the U.S. Special Representative to the State of Israel. I told Clifford that the Secretary had been very much concerned at the procedures followed in the appointment made on June 22, and particularly the precipitate action and failure to give the Department of State an opportunity to put the President in possession of any pertinent facts which might be at its disposal.

I stated that the Secretary’s concern had been such that he had written a long-hand letter from Walter Reed Hospital to the President yesterday. The Secretary was persuaded, after discussion this morning at the hospital, not to send the letter in today but he will discuss the matter fully with the President on Monday.

I told Clifford that I wanted him to know the above facts for background and also to give him an indication of the serious view which the Secretary took of the method of procedure, particularly at the present time.

Robert A. Lovett
  1. Initialed by the Secretary of State.