July 31, 1950
MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
Participants: Senator Knowland Secretary Acheson
Senator Knowland talked with Secretary Acheson this afternoon by telephone. The Senator said he had tried to get the Secretary earlier, but in the Secretary\'s absence had talked to Mr. Hickerson. The Senator said he believed that there were a great many Americans in and out of Congress who were worried about Malik\'s succeeding to the Chairmanship. The Senator said it seemed to him to be in the same category as one of the Capone syndicate being named head of the FBI. The Senator said he didn\'t know whether anything could be done about it but it was a fact that the President couldn\'t assume office until he takes the oath to support the Constitution and he thought there should be some protection to assure that the person who succeeds to the chairmanship supports the action of the Security Council; otherwise it would seem to keep a wide open situation of sabotage, and even advance far enough for a police force, which we do not have. The Senator said he was not an attorney and did not know whether there was any added obligation that the Security Council itself could provide by resolution or otherwise to give itself some protection, but if there isn\'t, the Senator thought there ought to be.
The Secretary said that it gets down to whether you could get votes and whether you should exercise them. The Secretary thought that we would not have the votes to throw Malik out. He believed it would be better for us to let him show his hand. This is a change in tactics. The Secretary said we have tried to guess what each one of the tactics means; and that we have a few of our own to put in.
Senator Knowland said he wondered whether it is the same situation as applies in Congressional committee-the Chairman can do a lot to delay and make more difficult the system of international law and order. He believed that the man who assumes whatever the dignities and powers of the office are, also should assume some of the responsibilities and obligations; if he is not willing to do that, there ought to be a safeguard against permitting sabotage and obstructionism.
The Senator said that today is the last day before Malik does assume such powers and he merely wanted to pass this on to Mr. Hickerson and to the Secretary.
The Secretary thanked the Senator for calling.
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