795.00/9–2651
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Webb)
National Security Council, Wednesday, September 26, 19511
Item 1. The briefing was held.2
Items 2 and 3.3 These were merged for discussion and the President called first on General Bradley. General Bradley’s view was that conditions in Korea had changed to such an extent that no action should be taken on the previous recommendation pending a thorough study [Page 964] by the senior staff.4 On Mr. Lovett’s suggestion this study was broadened to include not only the proposed action with respect to hot pursuit, but with respect to other matters such as economic blockade, etc.5
Item 4. Other business was routine.
- President Truman presided at this 103d meeting of the National Security Council (Record of Actions by the National Security Council, 1951; S/P Files: Lot 64D563, Box 730).↩
- The first item on the agenda was a discussion of the situation in the Far East in the light of a briefing on the military situation in Korea given by Commander C. H. Mead of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (NSC Action No. 560).↩
- The items referred to were discussions on United States Objectives, Policies, and Courses of Action in Asia (NSC 48/5) and United States Courses of Action in Korea, particularly in light of Secretary Marshall’s memorandum to Mr. Lay of September 4 dealing with “hot pursuit”, p. 881.↩
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A memorandum of September 24 from Mr. Merchant to Mr. Acheson, prepared as a briefing paper for this NSC meeting, had urged the wisdom of calling for a new study of the situation in Korea (NSC 48 series).
At the NSC meeting, the Council also noted the request of Gen. Bradley that consideration of “hot pursuit” be suspended until the Joint Chiefs of Staff had had a chance to consult with General Ridgway (NSC Action No. 562a).
↩ - The directive to the NSC Senior Staff, embodied in NSC Action No. 562b, culminated in the NSC 118 series circulated in November and December 1951.↩