MEMORANDUM
February 10, 1949
Item 1. - Attendance of U.S. Officials at the Opening Of the Israeli Constituent Assembly in Jerusalem
I went over this matter with the President giving him Mr. Ethridge's views and also Mr. McDonald's views and my own recommendation, which was that we should not attend. The President was very clear that this recommendation was correct and himself approved the telegram so stating.
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MEMORANDUM
February 10, 1949
Item 2.
The President informed me that he had approved my memorandum to him as to the procedure under which we should consider the problems of possible cooperation with the British and Canadians in atomic energy matters. This procedure involved the use of the National Security Council and the preparation under Admiral Souers of complete staff papers.
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MEMORANDUM
February 10, 1949
Item 3
I discussed with the President the use of the same machinery as in Item 2 to deal with the formulation of defense and state recommendations on the American attitude toward some Scandinavian countries joining the Atlantic Pact or as an alternative having their own arrangements. The President approved this machinery.I also mentioned to him that we must express an attitude to the Norwegian Foreign Minister before he left. I recommended to the President that our attitude be that the decision whether the Norwegians should join the Atlantic Pact or a Scandinavian Pact was a decision which they themselves had to make. We would not advise them or press them in any way directly or indirectly. We would assure them that an enthusiastic welcome awaited them either as participants in the drafting of such a pact or if they did not wish to do this, in acceding to it later on. Similarly, we were not to use the granting of military supplies as an instrument of pressure. They could be told that these supplies would have to be used in the most effective way for the security of the West. All other questions being equal, the nations which were closely associated with us in defense arrangements would logically have priority over those who were not. But there were obviously situations such as Greece for instance where it was of the utmost importance to give military assistance.
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MEMORANDUM
February 10, 1949
Item 4.
The President approved the acceptance of Mr. Norton's resignation and the sending to him of papers nominating Mr. Gross.
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MEMORANDUM
February 10, 1949
Item 5.
I discussed Hoover Commission matters with the President, got an understanding from him of the scope of his talk with Mr. Hoover yesterday, and got his assurance that he would discuss this matter fully with the Director of the Budget, Mr. Pace.
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