June 26, 1950
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation
The Secretary telephoned Judge Kee after having talked with Senator Connally. The Secretary said that he had to go up this morning to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on MDAP. He had been instructed by the President that he should not talk about any Far Eastern matters during the hearing since the President wanted the matter kept as secure and quiet as possible while the matter is before the UN Security Council. The Secretary said that the United Nations was taking effective action and that we are baking them up. The Secretary agreed with the President that we should not appear to be urging a course of action on the UN.
The Secretary outlined to Judge Kee the steps that had been taken since they first heard about the attack, which information came to him about 10 or 11 Saturday night. The Secretary said that Department officials had gotten in touch with the UN to ask that a Security Council meeting be called for 2 p.m. Sunday. The Security Council without objection had passed a very fine resolution calling for end of the fighting and withdrawal of the North Korean troops. The next step was to have the President come back last night and to meet with himself, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and top advisers, during which meeting a program was worked out for backing up UN and giving effective help to the South Koreans. The Secretary said the situation in South Korea was being followed very closely and that as of this morning things seemed to be in pretty good shape.
Judge Kee asked whether he had been right in making the statement that it could be assumed that South Korea was in good condition to take care of itself so long as the North Koreans were not supported by outside forces. The Secretary said he thought that was right. He said that the resistance had stiffened last night.
Judge Kee asked if his understanding was correct that we are aiding by furnishing such additional things as ammunition. The Secretary confirmed that understanding. Judge Kee said that his feeling is that the matter had been handled expeditiously and that everything had been done that ought to be done. Judge Kee said that his Committee was meeting this morning, would be in session probably every day of this week and that he would arrange for the Secretary to meet with them at any time he thought advisable. The Secretary said he would keep in close touch with Judge Kee and as soon as there was any information that would be useful, he would meet with the Committee but it was a delicate situation at the present and at this opening moment it really had to be in the hands of the President.
L.D.B.
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