February 5, 1951
CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT
Item 1. Wheat for India
The President told me that he had arranged a meeting for 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. He wished Mr. McGhee and me to be present to discuss the Indian Wheat matter with Mr. Herbert Hoover, Mr. Foster of ECA, Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Stanley Andrews and somebody from the Shipping Branch of the Department of Commerce. Before that time the President would like any detailed material which we can get up for him. For instance, Fitzgerald had raised the question of shipping, saying that the 2 million tons which the Indians were buying themselves presented very grave shipping problems and that the additional 2 million would add to these. The President wanted to know in more detail the number of ships required, the length of time that deliveries could take place, etc. He said, for instance, that the Indians had suggested sending the 2 million tons in four months by shipping 500 thousand tons a month. This he was told was quite impossible.
Is there any other detailed information on India's capacity to pay, etc., which the President should have?
The President is not contemplating completing his message until after his conference with Mr. Hoover and the others on Wednesday. He doubts therefore whether it can be ready before Friday.
He thinks that a bill introduced should be on a bi-partisan basis. He will discuss this with Senator Smith this afternoon.
D. A.
S:DA:dhm