March 3, 1949
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Of Secretary Acheson and Senator Connally
Subject: Italy and the North Atlantic Pact
As a result of the Secretary's conversation with the President yesterday afternoon on Italy and the North Atlantic Pact, it was agreed by Hickerson and Gross that the Secretary should contact Senator Connally to determine whether or not he should meet again with the Senators to tell them of the position of the Executive Branch in this matter.
Connally returned the Secretary's call at 5:15 this afternoon and the Secretary explained the difficulties substantially as covered in his memorandum of conversation with the President. Connally felt that there was little that could be done at this late stage in the game and agreed with the Secretary's suggestions that at tomorrow's meeting with the Ambassadors the Secretary would state that we withdraw any prior objection to Italy being a signatory to the Pact. The Secretary would attempt to avoid any discussion or decision as to Italy being an original signatory or coming in later.
Connally was to check with Vandenberg and George immediately and call back to inform the Secretary whether or not he should come to the Hill this evening to talk with all three of them together.
The Senator returned the call at 6:15 and reported that he was unable to reach Senator Vandenberg who had gone to his home, but he did not believe Vandenberg would want to meet this evening. He said he had spoken to Senator George, and he felt even more strongly than he did the other day, but he was not belligerent about it. The Secretary asked Connally to get in touch with Vandenberg tomorrow morning on the matter.
Senator Connally told the Secretary he wants to cooperate in every way and he will always be available to the Secretary, even if he has to come out of a Committee meeting. The Secretary told him he appreciated that and had on Wednesday at his press conference made it a point to say how much he appreciates what the Senator is doing. The Senator then remarked he wanted to maintain an intimate and friendly attitude, and the Secretary said he wanted to keep the Senator entirely abreast of things.
M.S.C. S:MSC:DHM