Office of the Historian

197. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Under Secretary of State (Herter) and Representative Sam Rayburn, Washington, June 28, 1957, 3:05 p.m.1

Washington, June 28, 1957, 3:05 p.m.

The Under Secretary telephoned Mr. Rayburn to express the Department’s concern about the Girard case and the Bow Resolution.2 Mr. Herter told Mr. Rayburn that the Department was not given an opportunity to put its views in the record; that although we had somebody standing by in the anteroom, he was never called by the Committee; and that a memorandum was being sent to Congressman GORDON this afternoon setting forth the Department’s position in the hope that it could be made a part of the record. Upon inquiry as to where the Girard resolution stood, Mr. Rayburn said they are planning to schedule it on the floor before the Mutual Security Program since it might otherwise get tacked on to the Mutual Security bill as a rider, which would be undesirable. Mr. Rayburn also said that the Girard resolution would go through the Rules Committee, but that as yet no one has asked for a ruling. He also said it would be in the form of a Joint Resolution which would have to pass the Senate and be signed by the President.3

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.551/6–2857. Drafted by Herter.↩

  2. As approved by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 27 by a vote of 18 to 8, the Bow Resolution (H.J. 16) called for revision or denunciation of all status of forces agreements which permitted the United States to waive jurisdiction over servicemen accused of crimes.

    Eisenhower discussed the Bow Resolution and its relationship to the Girard case at a meeting held with Congressional leaders on July 9. The President made clear his intention to veto it if necessary. (Supplementary Notes on Legislative Leadership Meeting by Minnich; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Legislative Meetings)

    In his news conference held July 17, President Eisenhower said that without status of forces treaties, the alliance system would “fall to pieces”, because the United States would be compelled to withdraw its soldiers stationed abroad. Eisenhower stated also that he had made his position clear to Congressional leaders of both parties and that he had found them to be in support of his stand. (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1957, pp. 549–550)

    ↩
  3. There was no action on H.J. 16 before Congress adjourned August 30. On May 13, 1958, Bow offered his proposal as an amendment to the Mutual Security Act of 1958. It was defeated in a standing vote, 89 to 61.↩