Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume IX, Foreign Economic Policy

97. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

Washington, March 17, 1961.

Mr. Ball reviewed the aid presentation and indicated that he would ask Mr. Labouisse to take on the matter full time with Jack Bell as Deputy provided it was agreed that we would support Mr. Labouisse for the top job. Mr. Rusk agreed and asked Mr. Battle to clear with Mr. Bowles. (Mr. Battle saw Mr. Bowles who was enthusiastic about the appointment but felt that release of information should be delayed as long as possible to prevent any opposition or rival candidates from developing.)

Mr. Ball reviewed the problem of burden sharing and indicated that he thought the Germans might agree to one per cent of gross national production. This seemed satisfactory to Mr. Rusk.

Mr. Ball reviewed the need for top level members in the DAG organization and described the functions of the DAG which he described as a clearing house for country reports on the aid they are giving other countries. He indicated it would not be an operations coordination but an information clearing house. The requirements of the Tuthill job were discussed.¹

[Here follows discussion of the task force report on the Konkoure Dam and foreign assistance to Africa.]

Mr. Ball informed the Secretary that the White House might announce that he would go to the OECD meeting in the statement on the signing of the treaty.²

The Secretary thought that a signing ceremony with photographs at the White House and with appropriate Congressional representation might be desirable. Mr. Battle pointed out the urgency of getting the papers through so that we would be the first depositor of ratification.

LDB

0. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation, Lot 65 D 330. Confidential. Drafted by Lucius D. Battle (S/S) on March 17.
1. Reference is presumably to John W. Tuthill, who became Representative to the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) on March 6. On October 4, President Kennedy designated him Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the successor to the OEEC.
2. By a vote of 72-18, the U.S. Senate consented to ratification of the OECD treaty on March 16. At the signing ceremony for ratification of the treaty at the White House on March 23, President Kennedy announced that Ball would represent the United States at the Development Assistance Group (DAG) meeting in London March 27-30. For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961, pp. 212-213.