March 21, 1949
The Secretary telephoned Mr. John Foster Dulles in New York and referred to Drew Pearson's article in today's Washington Post in which Pearson had stated that the Secretary was highly displeased with Dulles' recent speech in Cleveland on the North Atlantic Pact. The Secretary said he believed in direct discourse and he wanted him to know that there was not the slightest element of truth in Pearson's allegations. The Secretary said that as a matter of fact reports had reached him that Dulles had done a fine job in Cleveland.
Dulles said that he appreciated the Secretary's calling him about the matter. He stated that because of the opposition in Cleveland to the North Atlantic Pact, he had had to deal with the matter tactfully. He said that he had submitted a draft of his speech to the department and that as a result he had made some changes in it.
Mr. Dulles went on to say that he wanted to be as helpful as possible, but that if at any time the Secretary thought he was doing national harm he wanted to be told. He said he knew the Secretary's job was a difficult one and if there ever was anything that the Secretary wanted him to do, he would, if his conscience permitted him, do it.
Dulles said that the press had circulated similar stories about him and Secretary Byrnes when the latter was in office. The Secretary agreed with Dulles that oftentimes the press tried to whip up a controversy where none existed.
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S:ma John Foster Dulles 40 Wall Street New York 5