April 14, 1949
MEMORANDUM
Congressman Cannon's Speech on the Floor of the House
Mr. Clifford telephoned me to call my attention to the speech made by Congressman Cannon yesterday on the floor of the House, which is reported in the Congressional Record, p. 4584, April 13. Mr. Clifford said that this was one of the most dangerous speeches he had seen. In it Cannon outlines his views for a military force and air force aimed against the Soviet Union.
Mr. Clifford said that at his press conference this morning the President was able to be non-committal about the speech, but Mr. Clifford was certain that we would be getting questions and very bad reactions to the speech for a long time to come.
It seems to me that the speech is perfect ammunition for Mr. Gromyko, along the lines of his own talk before the United Nations yesterday. It will probably affect what I should say in my testimony on the Atlantic Pact. I should like to have Messrs. Kennan, Bohlen, Rusk and Gross consider what effect it is apt actually to have and what we should do about it.
Dean Acheson
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