September 24, 1952
S/S
Former Senator Myers called on the Secretary this afternoon. He said that the Inter-American Federation of Automobile Clubs, which was to meet in Philadelphia on Saturday, November, 8, had asked Assistant Secretary Miller to address their Twelfth Annual Assembly. Mr. Miller had expressed his regret and declined the invitation in a recent letter.
Senator Myers told the Secretary that the Inter-American Federation was assuming increasing importance in Inter-American affairs; that when assemblies were held in other countries of the Americas the Governments concerned exhibited a considerable interest, and it would be a very "bad show" for the United States not to indicate a considerable interest in the Philadelphia meeting. He therefore urged that the Secretary prevail upon Assistant Secretary Miller to address the assembly.
The Secretary explained to Senator Myers that Mr. Miller has been extremely busy lately and also has been burdened with some difficult private matters. The Secretary said that he would see what could be done about getting Mr. Miller to change his mind; but if that were not possible he would ask some other top ranking man in the Department to take on the assignment.
Following the Senator's departure, the Secretary asked me to have someone check and see whether Assistant Secretary Miller could possibly make the speech and, if it were not possible, whether his deputy, Mr. Mann, should handle the matter. The Secretary also thought it should be possible to get some American Ambassador to one of the Latin American countries to give the address.
May we be informed of the answer the Secretary can send to Senator Myers.
JK
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