May 13, 1952
MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
Participants: Mr. Lovett Mr. Acheson
Mr. Lovett telephone the Secretary to give him a blow-by-blow account. Mr. Lovett asked that we not disclose the source of his information.
Mr. Lovett said that they had gotten Senator Knowland to withdraw his amendment on the jets from the Committee report but he reserved the right to introduce it on the floor, the obvious intent being to have it acted on the floor where the opposing arguments made in the Committee could not be made.
They think that there is a 7 to 6 chance of getting the bill out no worse than the Senate Foreign Relations version. General Eisenhower's statement was something less than helpful, any cut beyond a billion would do damage.
Senator Bridges came to the rescue and got Senator Long to reduce his cut to 400 million. They are now talking 6 1/2 billions instead of 6 billion 9. Mr. Lovett said that if that were the case, there goes two years of Indochina. They are polling the absent members - seven of them are away. Senators Russell, Hunt, Kefauver, Johnson, possibly Flanders, Morse and Saltonstall will oppose the cut. For a further cut are Senators Byrd, Stennis, Long, Bridges, Cain and Knowland. Mr. Lovett thought that we should go to work on these. Mr. Lovett suggested that the Secretary take on Senators Stennis, Morse and Saltonstall and they would cover the others.
Mr. Acheson said that he was surprised at Senator Stennis. He would call him and Senators Morse and Saltonstall. Mr. Lovett said he thought there was no use trying to do anything with Senators Byrd and Long now, and the Secretary agreed.
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