MEMORANDUM
February 7, 1949
Item 1.
I gave the President an account of the hearing before the House Appropriation Subcommittee this morning. He expressed himself as pleased with what had occurred.
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MEMORANDUM
February 7, 1949
Item 2.
The President this morning asked me to consider the possible appointment of Francis Biddle as our representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The attached note deals with it.
I said to the President that we had been considering using this position either for Mr. Thorp or someone who could be of important assistance in dealing with international conferences either connected with the United Nations or with the Council of Foreign Ministers, or with meetings of the American States. I recalled to him his interest in not having the Secretary of State absent any more than was necessary and not having the Department torn to pieces whenever international meetings occurred. The President doubted whether Mr. Biddle could be of much help in this connection. If the post is to be used in the way I suggested, which he thinks desirable, he does not press Mr. Biddle upon us. If it is not to be so used, he would like us to give him careful consideration.
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MEMORANDUM
February 7, 1949
Item 3
Senator George has stressed with the President the importance of not sending to Congress legislation on ITO until the Trade Agreements Act is out of the way. Millikin would like to stretch out trade agreement hearings until the deadline is past. He can do this if he can combine it with ITO. The President asks that we do not send up ITO until Trade Agreements is out of the way.
Please see that there is no slip-up about this.
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MEMORANDUM
February 7, 1949
Item 4.
The President has given further thought to the recommendation of the National Security Council on munitions to China in the light of the advice given him by the Congressional leaders. He believes that it is wise for us to follow that advice. Therefore, we will not suspend or embargo shipments to China. However, wherever possible, it is desirable that shipments be delayed where this can be done without formal action. I suspect that this means that the ships now loading should be permitted to sail.
I should like a report on how other shipments from the United States and surplus property shipments from the Far East can be slowed down.
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