Editorial Note

On August 26 President Truman sent a letter to Secretary Acheson posing eight questions dealing with the defense of Europe and asking the Departments of State and Defense to develop jointly recommendations on the eight points for the forthcoming meetings of the Foreign Ministers and the North Atlantic Council. Secretary Acheson made an interim reply on the same day, assuring the President that the matter was under consideration, and on September 8 he and Secretary Johnson gave a full reply outlining the conclusions and recommendations of their Departments with regard to the eight points. For the text of the President’s letter and the joint reply, see pages 250 and 273, respectively.