November 6, 1952
MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
Participants: Mr. Lovett Mr. Acheson
Mr. Lovett took up with the Secretary the question of Iran and the letter which he had written to Mr. Acheson. He explained first, that he had expected to telephone Mr. Acheson before the letter was sent over to state the purpose behind the letter, but had found that the Secretary was out of town. Secondly, he explained that the letter was an effort to compel the Joint Chiefs of Staff to take a realistic look at the Middle Eastern problem now that the British position in Iran is altered. He said we are long overdue in getting the Middle East command and in getting a statement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff as to the meaning of the situation in the Middle East and to get a realistic proposal from the military on the Middle East. Mr. Lovett had not thought there was anything new or original in the letter he sent.
Mr. Acheson said that he had answered the letter and had stressed the point Mr. Lovett was making to him. Mr. Acheson agreed with the Defense view that we had responsibility in the Middle East and had to do something about it. He had pointed out that there would be great resentment on the part of the British and had raised the question our taking more responsibility in the Middle East. Mr. Lovett said he assumed the letter must be in channels at the Defense Department and he would look it up.
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