April 27, 1949
Summary memorandum of telephone conversation
Participants: John Foster Dulles, Dean Acheson
Mr. John Foster Dulles telephoned the Secretary at 1:55 p.m. Mr. Dulles said that he had just talked to Governor Dewey and the Governor wanted Mr. Dulles to transmit to the Secretary, and through the Secretary to the President, the thought that if there were any matters on which the Secretary wanted to have him briefed before he goes over there (so that he will not inadvertently say or do anything that would be embarrassing), Governor Dewey would be happy to accept any suggestions of that order, it being quite understood that anything of that sort would be strictly confidential. Mr. Dulles said that Governor Dewey did not want to do or say anything that might be unnecessarily embarrassing, due to ignorance on his part. The Governor wanted the Secretary and the President to have this in mind.
The Secretary said that it was very thoughtful of the Governor and that he would take it up with the President right away.
Mr. Dulles again stressed that this would be kept strictly confidential and that it was motivated by the desire on the part of the Governor not to create embarrassment by utterances which might have implications of which he was not aware.
The Secretary said that he thought the Governor was entirely right.
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