80. Memorandum for the Record of Conversation Between John Foster Dulles and McElroy1
SUBJECT
- Military Paragraphs of Basic National Security Policy Paper (NSC 5810/1)
In a discussion of the above subject with the Secretary on July 21, Secretary McElroy said that Defense felt that, while it is appropriate to continue work on the development of an alternative strategic doctrine, the present situation required us to have a firm basis on which we could proceed in the meantime.
The Secretary asked if it would be acceptable to Secretary McElroy if we agreed that, as far as the record was concerned, paragraphs 13 and 14 of the paper would stand unchanged, but that the President would privately ask Secretary McElroy and himself to continue studying the question until a better recommendation could be made. Secretary McElroy accepted this idea.
The Secretary emphasized it was important that this information be closely held to a small group, since it would be dangerous if our allies and others knew about it before an adequate alternative doctrine was evolved. He said he would instruct our Planning Board representative to state that we accept paragraphs 13 and 14, but that information about the President’s request for further study would be kept secret. Secretary McElroy agreed.
- Source: Strategic concept. Secret. 1 p. NARA, RG 59, S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63 D 351.↩