395. Record of Telephone Conversation Between McElroy and John Foster Dulles1
The Sec told of Nixon’s cable. It would involve a change in our basic position. Should the Sec talk to Q or does M want to handle himself. M will be willing to get Q in it but he thinks for us to make that kind of step back should be after a lot of conversation. Our protection against big countries is our atomic strength. If we can’t tie it in with restrictions on atomic weapons we are in trouble. M does not get the British point on this and does not think N on a TV program should announce this change. The Sec read the cable. The Sec referred to a message he got last night from Lloyd pressing us to move in this direction. The Sec does not think we should do this over the phone because N wants to have a press conf. M agreed. The Sec agreed it is a serious question and we should take adequate time to thrash it out among ourselves and bring the Pres in. The Sec replied he is not sure he agrees with what M said but is not going to try to rush for a contrary decision because N is having a press conf in London. We should be thinking about this and he suspects our people are because we had what appeared to be a unanimous recommendation from our del that we should accept this change. He believes Fox sent a telegram to Defense. M said maybe that is the way it should come but only after deliberation. The Sec will respond the Pres is in Augusta and it should be discussed among ourselves and him and not all can see him together.
- Source: Response to Nixon cable pushing for rapid change in U.S. negotiating position. No classification marking. 1 p. Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations.↩