297. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow) to President Johnson1
Washington, March 22, 1968, 6:30 p.m.
Mr. President:
Attached is the summary report of consultations on the Hill which our Ambassador to NATO, Harlan Cleveland, undertook at your request. He spoke to 17 Senators and 17 Representatives. (The list is at Tab A.)2
His major conclusions are:
- 1.
- There is continued support in Congress for NATO.
- 2.
- The Mansfield Resolution is quiescent—but NATO troop levels will become a major issue if reserves are called up.
- 3.
- If reserves are called up, we should argue we must not be pulled out of Europe by events in Asia.
- 4.
- Congressional frustration over Vietnam is widespread. The fact the Europeans are not “helping us” in Vietnam is often mentioned. Opponents of our Vietnam policy are waiting to seize on some issue with Vietnam implications, filibuster it to death, and bring about a “damaging and divisive state of affairs”.
- 5.
- The Administration should emphasize that holding the line in Europe and bringing the Vietnam conflict to a successful conclusion are both necessary parts of a global strategy to keep the peace.
Walt