740.5/4–351
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by Lucius D. Battle, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State 1
Subject: The McClellan Resolution on Troops to Europe2
The Secretary telephoned Mr. Lovett during the 9:30 meeting3 about what in his opinion should be done on the Senate Resolution on troops to Europe. He said Mr. Harriman, who was at the meeting, would see the President at 10 o’clock. The Secretary said their view was that it would be better to bring the business to a close and we should, therefore, do everything we could to prevent the Resolution being recommitted where it would drag on. We would take the position that this approves what we should do in the near future and let the longer future take care of itself.
Mr. Lovett said their view is somewhat the same and that if it goes back to Committee it will be likely to come out in worse form. He said [Page 117] their feeling was to let nature take its course on the floor and try to limit the move to recommit.4
Mr. Harriman then spoke with Mr. Lovett and inquired if the McClellan Resolution would be a problem as far as sending small units, and Mr. Lovett indicated they were not quite clear on just where it did leave them.
Mr. Lovett called the Secretary again in a few minutes to say that one of his people reported that Senator McMahon believes he might be able to get the language of the Resolution changed a little and get a favorable re-vote on it. He was inquiring for advice from Defense on this. The Secretary and Mr. Lovett agreed that they couldn’t tell McMahon not to go ahead if he thought he could get a revision, but they were doubtful that this could be accomplished, and feared something worse might come of it.
Mr. Harriman telephoned the Secretary about 10:20 to say he had talked briefly with the President about the matter and the President is of the same opinion he was last night. He feels he doesn’t want to try to intervene at all, let them go ahead and mess it up good in the Senate (which will prove they are incompetent to deal with the matter) and then if they get a joint resolution, fight it in the House.
The Secretary suggested the President should send word to Senators McFarland and Connally to let them know where he stands, but Mr. Harriman said the President did not want to do that; that he seems to want it to go back to Committee.
The Secretary said people here feel that little can be accomplished so far as the outcome of the Resolution is concerned, but that from the point of view of dealing with the Congress, it would seem wise for the President to let the Senators know what he wants to come out of this. He said if he wants the resolution recommitted, then he should not talk to them.
Mr. Harriman said that seemed to be the course the President wanted to follow, but after the staff meeting was over (about 10:30) he would talk again with him. He said he had given him out arguments in favor of trying to end it where it is, but he was unsuccessful in changing his mind. However, Mr. Harriman will let the Secretary know what comes of their further talk.
Mr. Harriman reported back that he got no further with the President. He said that is where the matter stands unless the Secretary and [Page 118] Mr. Lovett feel it is important enough to take up with the President. The Secretary said that time was so short before Congress reconvenes that he did not believe it would be worthwhile.
Mr. Harriman said he raised the question with the President of delay in sending troops and the President said they should not be delayed. Mr. Harriman said that this should be considered. He said one Division was ready, but must be given 30 days notice. It would not be practical to try to keep this troop movement secret because of the 30 days notice, and therefore, making an announcement soon should also be given careful consideration. It was agreed that this should be discussed with Mr. Lovett.
- Copies of this memorandum were sent to Fisher and McFall.↩
- The subject heading evidently refers to the McClellan Amendment to S. Res. 99. See editorial note, p. 22.↩
- A record of this meeting is in file lot 58 D 609, the Secretary’s Daily Meetings.↩
- The Senate defeated a motion to recommit S. Res. 99 on April 3, by a vote of 49 to 43, with 4 not voting (Congressional Record, 82d Cong., 1st sess., p. 3096).↩