December 22, 1949
Memorandum of Conversation
Admiral Souers called the Secretary on December 22 in the late afternoon regarding the proposed meeting of the NSC to consider the Far Eastern question. Admiral Souers said that Secretary Early had called to tell him that the JCS could not be ready until January 4. The JCS felt that it could not prepare a paper before then. The Admiral said that the President was inclined to want the meeting held on the 29th, as had been suggested, and the Admiral wanted to see whether Secretary Acheson agreed on the desirability of proceeding in the light of the JCS feeling on the matter. The Secretary said that it was his opinion that it would be very useful to proceed as planned with the meeting being held on the 29th of December.
Admiral Souers mentioned that NSC had not asked the JCS for a paper and the Admiral felt that the JCS views could be set forth orally by General Bradley during the course of the meeting. Mr. Acheson said that he thought it would be useful to at least lay the issues before the group and try to thrash out some of the answers and he recommended that the meeting be held with the President presiding. Admiral Souers said the President would be very glad to chair the meeting. He indicated that the meeting would be called.
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