Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, China and Japan, Volume XIV, Part 1

Eisenhower Library. Eisenhower papers, Whitman file

No. 128
Memorandum of Discussion at the 156th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, July 23, 1953¹

top secret
eyes only

Washington, July 23, 1953

Present at the 156th Meeting of the Council were the President of the United States, presiding; the Vice President of the United States; the Secretary of State; the Deputy Secretary of Defense; the Director for Mutual Security; and the Director, Office of Defense Mobilization. Also present were the Secretary of the Treasury; the Secretary of the Interior (for Item 1); the Secretary of Commerce (for Item 1); the Secretary of the Navy (for Item 1); the Director, Bureau of the Budget; the United States Representative to the United Nations (for Item 5); the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Director of Central Intelligence; Mr. Cutler, Special Assistant to the President; Mr. Jackson, Special Assistant to the President; Col. Carroll, Acting White House Staff Secretary; the Executive Secretary, NSC; and the Coordinator, NSC Planning Board Assistants. Also present, for Item 1 only, were: J. A. LaFortune, Petroleum Administration for Defense; W. G. Donley, Petroleum Administration for Defense; Robert B. Murray, Jr., Department of Commerce; Louis S. Rothschild, Maritime Administrator; Commander J. J. Mooney, Maritime Administration; Robert L. Finley, Office of Defense Mobilization.

There follows a summary of the discussion at the meeting and the main points taken.

[Here follows discussion of petroleum supplies, continental defense, an intelligence briefing, and several topics related to Korea.]

8. Transfer to the Chinese National Government of Light U.S. Naval Ships (NSC Action No. 841)²

General Bradley reported that it appeared feasible from a military point of view to transfer two additional DD’s or DE’s to the Chinese National Government within several months.

The President said this question had been brought up by CIA’s concern over some of the little islands near Formosa. The transfer of these ships would give the Chinese National Government a small navy with which to patrol these islands.

The President then referred to a conversation he had just had with Senator Dirksen,³ in which the Senator had advised him to ask for authority in broader terms. The President felt that Senator Dirksen was right, and that Congressional authorization to transfer additional light U.S. naval ships to the Chinese National Government should be in very broad terms.

General Bradley noted that at the present time no transfer of naval vessels could take place without specific Congressional authorization.

The President said we should go ahead and get this authorization, but in broad terms.

The National Security Council:⁴

a. Noted an oral report by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, that it appeared feasible, if authorized by Congress, to transfer two additional light U.S. naval ships to the Chinese National Government within a reasonably short time.

b. Noted the President’s desire that Congressional authorization be obtained in general terms to transfer additional light U.S. naval ships to the Chinese National Government as rapidly as feasible.

Note: The action in b above subsequently transmitted to the Secretary of Defense for implementation.

[Here follows discussion concerning other agenda items.]

Marion W. Boggs

1. Drafted by Marion W. Boggs, Coordinator of the NSC Board of Assistants, on July 24.
2. See footnote 3, Document 121.
3. Senator Everett Dirksen (R–Illinois).
4. The lettered subparagraphs below constitute NSC Action No. 861. (S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) files, lot 65 D 95, “Record of Actions by the National Security Council, 1953”)