August 3, 1950
Meeting of the National Security Council
As I understood things, the following decisions were reached this afternoon:
Item 1.
The President directed that the calling up of reserves should not be delayed while a general policy was worked out; that Mr. Symington and the military authorities were to agree on the long-range policy at once and recommend to the President for implementation. Any departures from the long-range policy which occurred in the meantime during the calling up of the reserves should be rectified by orders from the Secretary of Defense as soon as the broad policy decisions were made.
Item 2.
This matter was referred for discussion this evening between the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense and Mr. Harriman.
Item 3. Reconnaissance
Secretary Johnson said that he accepted the Department's memorandum and was carrying it out. We might follow this up to be sure that the two Departments understand one another.
Item 4.
The State and Defense amendments to the consultants' paper were referred back to the consultants for further work.
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Item 5.
General Bradley gave a briefing on the situation in Korea. At the end of it I asked Secretary Johnson and General Bradley whether they had any information about the stationing of jets on Formosa. They both replied in the negative and General Bradley said he would be opposed to it.
I then read them portions of Strong's telegrams which they agreed were too detailed to be based on sheer rumor. They will look into the matter at once.
Item 6.
It was decided that this program should be pushed vigorously. S DA:ma