102. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, March 15, 1956, 2:30 p.m.1
OTHERS PRESENT
- Admiral Radford
- General Taylor
- General Twining
- Admiral Burke
- General Pate
- Colonel Goodpaster
[Here follows discussion of the U.S. military program.]
Admiral Radford said the JCS are tending to think that the problem the United States faces is not primarily military. More important is to reach a line of action as to what we [can?] do in the Middle East. Many questions are arising. There are indications the British are shying away from joint planning, perhaps based on a conclusion that they cannot find themselves in position of fighting the Arabs. If the U.S. does not join the Baghdad Pact, there are signs the Pact may disintegrate. The President said we have been holding off on the Baghdad Pact, trying to get constructive plans adopted, such as the Johnston plan. It might well be that we could now reconsider.
[Page 259]He said that the Administration will soon be going to the Congress in support of the Foreign Aid program. In the second section he would like to see the Chiefs express their ideas as to what we should do in broad outline in Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, the Far East, etc.
The President said the time may be coming when we will have to serve some notice on certain of the Middle Eastern countries. Admiral Burke said what is needed at such a time is someone else in a country who can become the leader. The President said that perhaps Saud could be the leader. Arabia is the religious center. It could then take a leading role. Admiral Radford suggested working through Turkey and Pakistan. He thought that if the United States joined the Baghdad Pact, current suspicions and criticisms that it is largely political could be lessened. He referred to problems in Libya where arms are apparently passing from the Egyptians into French North Africa. Admiral Burke said we should consider what could be cut off—not always what could be added on. By dumping cotton, great pressure could be exerted. Similarly, by curtailing oil output in some areas, the flow of money might be curtailed. Difficulties in the way of these activities were brought out in discussion. The President inquired whether it would be possible to increase oil from Iran relative to output in other areas.
After further discussion, the Chiefs undertook to develop views along the lines the President requested.
Colonel, CE, U S Army
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries. Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on March 16.↩