Office of the Secretary
February 29, 1952
MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
Participants: Senator McMahon Mr. Acheson
At Mr. McFall's request the Secretary telephoned Senator McMahon to talk about the St. Lawrence Seaway bill. The Secretary said that his main concern was that he hoped that we can keep up our close relations with Canada and not have any shadows cast on that relationship.
The Senator said that he was in a very tough spot on the St. Lawrence and that he had not made up his mind which way he would vote but would appreciate the question conscientiously. He said the following were his own difficulties as Senator from Connecticut-even though he would try to look at the matter from an over-all point of view rather than from the point of view of his own State.
1. He pointed out that Connecticut had been trying very hard to develop a steel mill in New London with great opposition from other steel milling interests. He pointed out that Connecticut had lost several important manufacturing industries, such as shoes, textiles, automobile parts.
2. The people of Connecticut, particularly southern Connecticut, had a great interest in the port of New York.
3. While there is a great deal of talk about the power that would be developed by the St. Lawrence Seaway, Senator McMahon had investigated this matter and found that none of the power would be delivered in Connecticut.
The Secretary said that he could see that the Senator had some very real difficulties in considering his vote on the St. Lawrence Seaway but that he was sure that the Senator would vote as he conscientiously thought best.
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