Lot 54 D 423
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Executive Secretariat (Barnes)
Memorandum of Conversation Between the President and Acting Secretary Webb, August 131
Item B—Soviet Acceptance of Invitation to Attend San Francisco Conference.
The President himself raised the question of the Soviet acceptance of the invitation to the San Francisco conference, and said that he was [Page 1267] determined that we should go forward with our plans just the same. Mr. Matthews told the President that the Department agreed with this line, although we recognize that one of the major Soviet objectives was to disrupt the Japanese Treaty. We would, therefore, have to accept a certain amount of difficulty at San Francisco which might make it harder for us to maintain the determination of some of our Allies, The President said he recognized this but was quite firm in his desire that we should attempt to move ahead with the conclusion of the treaty.
The President read and approved the draft reply2 to the Soviet acceptance, and suggested that it might be well to release this to the press at the same time we answer the Soviet acceptance. Mr. Matthews pointed out that we would at least have to wait until the reply reached the Russian foreign office. The President agreed and the question of the press handling was left to our discretion.