315. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Rusk, at Reykjavik1
190741. Tosec 46. For Secretary only from Acting Secretary. At the Tuesday luncheon discussion today,2 the President expressed himself quite strongly on the question of U.S. troop cuts in Europe, and I thought it would be helpful background information for you on the eve of your Bonn visit tomorrow. The subject arose because Clark Clifford had had a discouraging talk with Senator Russell this morning in which Russell indicated his inclination to support the Symington amendment.3 The President said that he would have no part of dismantling voluntarily our essential troop structure in Europe before he left office next January and if he had to have a “war with Russell” to maintain options for his successor, he would be willing to do so. When Clark mentioned the possibility of non-combat troop withdrawals, I indicated that we are looking at that closely. Bus Wheeler4 said that he had many problems with the ISA plan which you are familiar with. Plainly even such limited withdrawal plans will need much further refinement before there is a Presidential approval or action on them.
[Here follow 3 paragraphs on unrelated matters.]
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 69 D 182, CF 300. Secret; Priority;Nodis.↩
- Notes on the President’s June 25 meeting with the Tuesday Luncheon Group are in the Johnson Library, Tom Johnson’s Notes of Meetings, Box 3.↩
- On April 19, in the debate on the Military Procurement Bill, Senator Stuart Symington announced that he would introduce the following amendment to the Military Appropriation Bill when it came before the Senate: “After December 31, 1968, no appropriation authorized by this or any other Act may be used to support more than 50,000 members of the Armed Forces of the United States on the continent of Europe.” (Memorandum to the Secretary of State, July 9; Department of State, SIG Files: Lot 74 D 164)↩
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Earle G. Wheeler.↩