Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file
No. 906
Memorandum of Discussion at the
180th Meeting of the National Security Council, Thursday,
January 14, 19541
eyes only
Present at the 180th meeting of the Council were the President of the United States, presiding; the Vice President of the United States; the Secretary of State; the Acting Secretary of Defense; the Acting Director, Foreign Operations Administration; the Director, Office of Defense Mobilization. Also present were the Secretary of the Treasury; the Acting Secretary of the Interior (for Item 1); the Secretary of Commerce (for Item 1); the Director, Bureau of the [Page 1935] Budget; the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (for Item 3); the Federal Civil Defense Administrator (for Item 3); the Under Secretary of State; the Service Secretaries and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (for Item 3); Col. Bonesteel, Mr. Lehrer and Col. Powell, Department of Defense (for Item 3); the Director of Central Intelligence; the Assistant to the President; Robert Cutler and C. D. Jackson, Special Assistants to the President; Richard L. Hall, NSC Special Staff; the Executive Secretary, NSC; and the Deputy Executive Secretary, NSC.
Following is a summary of the discussion at the meeting and the chief points taken.
[Here follows discussion of items 1–5, significant world developments affecting United States security, a national petroleum program, continental defense, United States policy toward Southeast Asia, and United States civil administration in the Ryukyu Islands.]
6. U.S. Objectives and Policies With Respect to Austria (Memos for NSC from Executive Secretary, same subject, dated October 122 and December 22, 1953;3 NSC 164/1, para. 16–d4)
Mr. Cutler read to the Council paragraph 16–d of NSC 164/1, regarding the possible neutralization of Austria if this proved necessary to secure a treaty, and then asked General Twining to summarize the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as to this course of action.
General Twining indicated that while the Joint Chiefs had no objection to going along with the present wording of paragraph 16–d, they merely wished to point out their anxiety at the prospect of any considerable neutralization of Austria to the point where it would interfere with the defense of Western Europe.
The President again, as at other meetings of the Council, complained that NSC papers used the word “neutralization” very loosely. Henceforth, he said, our papers should clearly indicate that neutralization of a nation did not necessarily mean its disarmament.
Secretary Dulles agreed with the President, and pointed out that what the State Department had in mind with regard to the neutralization of Austria was to agree, if absolutely necessary, that Austria should renounce membership in NATO or military alliances with the West. In any case, he reassured the military once again that the State Department would do all in its power to prevent any neutralization of Austria. He furthermore doubted whether the issue would come up at the forthcoming Berlin conference.
[Page 1936]The National Security Council:
Noted and discussed the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, transmitted by the reference memorandum of December 22, 1953, on the military implications of the degree of armed neutralization of Austria which might ultimately be accepted by the United States under paragraph 16–d of NSC 164/1.
[Here follows discussion of item 7, United States policy toward Iran.]
- Drafted on Jan. 15.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 3, Document 894.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 1, Document 904.↩
- Document 895.↩