146. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (Snyder), Washington, May 21, 1957, 2:58 p.m.1
TELEPHONE CALL FROM MURRAY SNYDER
S read a statement Wilson and Brucker want to issue and the Sec said he does not agree to it.2 It is being handled in a precipitate manner without adequate thought to what is involved. The Sec read his letter.3 The Sec does not understand why just because some of these people in Congress get excited we feel we have to jump through the hoop and jeopardize our position in the FE. The least result is we take our forces out. The Sec mentioned discussing it and getting agreement of facts and the law and if possible the stakes involved and if there is not some better way to work it out than by tearing up the agreement. S said Brucker wants to get it back to where it was the day after and then proceed. The Sec knows that but when you take steps you can’t always retrace them unless the other fellows lets you. S mentioned the meeting they had with the Leaders at the WH this a.m.4 The Sec said you can do more harm in this and take away the good from MSA. S mentioned trying to get consultation Friday.5 The Sec said he is still in our hands so why rush? S said the message has not been sent. The Sec said we have sent a message to MacArthur.6 S said B is under pressure. S said for the Sec to set a meeting. The Sec mentioned tomorrow. S will ask B to call back.
B did not call back but they will meet at 4:15 today.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Drafted by Bernau.↩
- Not found.↩
- Infra.↩
- See Document 142.↩
- May 24.↩
- See footnote 3, supra.↩