DRAFT - 11/15/52 November 15, 1952
MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL EISENHOWER AND THEIR AIDES
A. Purpose of Meeting
1. I have invited you gentlemen to meet with me here to establish the framework for full understanding of our problems and our purposes in the interim until January 20.
2. So far as our relations with other countries are concerned, I think it is important during this period to avoid needless differences between this Administration and its successor for several reasons.
a) It will show the world national unity in foreign policy as far as politically possible.
b) It will help to maintain respect abroad for the power and influence of the United States.
c) It will help to sustain the confidence of our allies and friends in the continuity of our foreign policy in so far as it is possible and proper to do so.
d) It will lessen the opportunities for the Kremlin to divide the United States from its allies and friends.
e) It will deter the Kremlin from precipitating a crisis on the basis of a misunderstanding of the unity and strength of purpose of the United States.
3. It is also my purpose to do what can be done by this Administration to facilitate the orderly transfer of our duties to our successors. I think that is in the best interest of the country.
4. I want to make available to General Eisenhower and his associates the information that will be helpful to them in taking over the operation of the Government.
5. It is not my purpose to try to shift responsibility for actions taken by the Government between now and January 20th. I am going to follow the policies I believe to be right up until that time and I will take full responsibility for them.
6. There are certain questions on which it might be very important to our foreign policy for General Eisenhower to express his views. But it is up to him to decide whether or not he will do so.
B. Liaison Arrangements.
1. I welcome General Eisenhower's selection of Senator Lodge and Mr. Dodge to establish liaison with this Administration. We will give them our full cooperation.
2. If General Eisenhower wishes to designate additional representatives from time to time, we will be glad to work with them also.
3. We want to do all we can to help the incoming Administration by filling in the background on current problems and by making available in advance information concerning the problems you will have to deal with.
4. It is not our purpose or intention to attempt to commit or bind the incoming Administration.
5. All we are doing is trying to make a common-sense approach to the situation.
C. Ask for Remarks by General Eisenhower.
1. There are some specific problems that I think should be discussed here today. I would like to ask the Secretary of State to bring them up for discussion, but first I want to ask if that is satisfactory to General Eisenhower and if he has anything to say at this point.
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D. Current Problems.
(Ask the Secretary of State and others to discuss the following).
1. Korea.
2. Iran.
3. Tunisia, Morocco, and South Africa - especially the United Nations aspects.
4. Relations with NATO, especially the next meeting of the council.