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  4. Document 412

740.00119 Control (Germany)/6–749

Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State

top secret
Washington, June 7, 1949.

Meeting With President, June 7, 1949

possible action in event of reimposition of blockade by ussr

The President approved the line of action recommended in our cable to Secretary Acheson1 but was glad to know I had reiterated by a second cable2 the security requirements suggested by the JCS.

The President expressed himself as being more nearly in accord with the views expressed by Secretary Acheson3 than with the line of action we were recommending. He asked again that we consider every possible means of taking action that would be costly to the Russians and provide them with difficulties if they make any move to reimpose the blockade.

He is beginning to feel that the Russians are confronted with a serious internal situation as well as our own increasing power together with that of our allies.

James E. Webb
  1. Telac 60, supra. ↩
  2. President Truman was referring to Telac 62, June 7, not printed; but see footnote 3 to Telac 60, supra ↩
  3. Secretary Acheson’s views were transmitted in Actel 41, June 5, p. 826.↩