June 28, 1950
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
Subject: Meeting of the NSC in the Cabinet Room at the White House
Participants: In addition to the usual members of the NSC: The Vice President, Secretary Snyder, Mr. Symington, and Mr. Harriman were present
Mr. Rusk, Mr. Matthews, and Mr. Jessup accompanied the Secretary of State
THE PRESIDENT read the latest bulletins concerning developments in Korea. He said that we needed to resurvey our policy papers so far as the Soviet Union is concerned.
SECRETARY JOHNSON said that work on this was well along. \(It was not clear to what Mr. Johnson referred and I later gathered from either General Burns or Mr. Pace that they did not know to what Mr. Johnson referred.\)
SECRETARY ACHESON said that the State Department was working with the Department of Defense on the survey of next possible Soviet moves. They were also giving consideration to what should be done in case the Soviet would take further action. He referred to a paper which he had given to the Defense Department relative to the care which would be taken to avoid action in Korea involving Soviet forces.
SECRETARY JOHNSON said he had no quarrel with the State Department\'s paper although they might wish to change the phraseology. He had asked the Joint Chiefs to include this point in a comprehensive document so that when it became a historical document the whole picture would be presented. They would send it to the President and Secretary Acheson when it was complete.
THE PRESIDENT expressed approval.
SECRETARY ACHESON suggested that they would not trouble the President until the staff work had been completed.
THE PRESIDENT said he was doing his best to avoid any feeling of panic and to keep people from being scared.
MR. PACE suggested that the Top Secret character of the paper in question should be carefully guarded. THE PRESIDENT agreed.
SECRETARY ACHESON pointed to the serious nature of the situation if the difficulties in Korea increased instead of our meeting with quick success.
THE PRESIDENT said he didn\'t intend to back out unless there should develop a military situation which we had to meet elsewhere.
SECRETARY ACHESON suggested that the President might wish the Military Establishment to review United States forces available in the Far East in case the President should later decide that he wished to act.
THE PRESIDENT said that was right.
MR. HARRIMAN reported on the favorable European reaction to the moves which had been taken.
THE PRESIDENT said that in the meeting with the Congressional leaders yesterday many questions had been asked whether other countries would aid. Congress should be informed concerning the UK offer of ten vessels.
SECRETARY SNYDER said there was a ticker report that Attlee had offered the whole Far Eastern fleet.
THE VICE PRESIDENT said there was a Senate rumor that the UK had offered its fleet only for relief purposes.
THE PRESIDENT said that as soon as the offer was received it should be accepted and that British forces should be placed under MacArthur.
SECRETARY JOHNSON said he would like to ask the Navy whether they would like to have British forces. He said they did not want them during the last war due to a difference in signals and other difficulties.
THE PRESIDENT said that was a different situation. We do want them now.
SECRETARY SNYDER said the Treasury Department had been keeping up to date a re-appraisal of the Treasury position and it would be prepared to sharpen it whenever it was needed.
SECRETARY FINLETTER showed the President a map of air bases in North Korea. He said we could not get the full value of our air support unless we could attack especially the North Korean bases and fuel supplies.
THE PRESIDENT asked General Vandenberg to survey this point and said we may have to do it but he didn\'t want to decide that now.
GENERAL VANDENBERG further explained the situation by reference to the map.
THE PRESIDENT said this matter needed further consideration.
GENERAL VANDENBERG said the North Korean bases were thirty or forty miles of the 38th parallel. He said that at present our planes were not likely to cross the frontier even by mistake.
SECRETARY ACHESON said he hoped we would not cross the 38th parallel.
THE PRESIDENT said we were not to do it.
SECRETARY JOHNSON said to General Vandenberg that those were his orders.
THE PRESIDENT said that is correct.
SECRETARY FINLETTER asked whether it would be desirable to send General Vandenberg to Tokyo.
SECRETARY JOHNSON commented on the high quality of the officers in Japan.
THE PRESIDENT said it was not a good idea for any member of the Joint Chiefs to leave Washington at this time.
SECRETARY ACHESON asked what are the possibilities of our air against North Korean armor.
GENERAL VANDENBERG said that we could knock them out if they did not hide in towns. He mentioned also that there are many narrow defiles in which it is hard to reach them. He said if there were a steady stream it was hard to keep them knocked out. He said our planes were flying so far from their bases that they had very little time over the battlefield to search for targets. He suggested the possibility of retaking the Kimpo airport.
GENERAL COLLINS mentioned bad weather as a limitation on our air effectiveness and also noted that the tanks could move at night.
THE PRESIDENT commented that it was apparent that field artillery is still necessary.
SECRETARY PACE said that Intelligence had been ordered to report immediately on any Soviet participation in Korea.
THE PRESIDENT said special attention should also be paid to Bulgaria and Iran. \(Admiral Sowers later told me that from what the President had said earlier he had in mind the whole Yugoslav frontier area.\)
There was discussion between Secretary Pace, the Vice President and the President concerning limitations to be placed on the military briefing of Senators. THE PRESIDENT suggested that the Vice President and Mr. Pace work this out with Senator Lucas.
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