Memorandum of Conversation with Carlisle Humelsine, Senator Pat McCarran, and Senator Styles Bridges
4/10/1951
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This document summarizes a conversation between Secretary of State Dean Acheson with Senators Pat McCarran and Styles Bridges. Among the topics discussed are China, Formosa, Yugoslavia, General Douglas MacArthur, and the number of Communists working in the government.
This document remains partly classified; some pages have been sanitized in part. It was identified by teachers in our Primarily Teaching 2017 Summer Workshop at the Truman Library. Show/Hide TranscriptTranscript
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Memorandum of Conversation
DATE: April 10, 1951
SUBJECT: Senate Appropriations Hearings
PARTICIPANTS: Senator McCarren, Senator Bridges Secretary Acheson and Mr. Humelsine
COPIES TO: S - (Mr. Battle) H - Mr. McFall U.- Mr. Webb G - Mr. Matthews S/IEA - Mr. Cabot FE - Mr. Rusk EUR - Mr. Perkins CEF - Mr. Wilber
Senator McCarran opened the conversation by making two suggestions to Secretary Acheson. The first was that the Secretary seriously consider the appointment of an Ambassador to China (Formosa), and the second, a request that the Secretary urge the President not to make any change in so far as General MacArthur's status was concerned.
Senator McCarran said that he was making this suggestion regarding MacArthur as a Democrat and an American and that he was reflecting the opinion of the country on this item. He said he had just been home to Nevada, had visited California, and that in his trip across the country he found general support and great regard for General MacArthur. Senator Bridges said he endorsed and was in full agreement with both suggestions of Senator McCarran.
As to item 1, the Secretary responded to Senator McCarran pointing out that we had an Ambassador to China at the present time. He named Ambassador Stuart and explained that he was in the hospital, and gave a short background on Ambassador Stuart's personal situation. The Secretary went on to say that we were well represented by a Charge in Taipai, Mr. Rankin. The Secretary indicated, however, that he would consider Senator McCarran's suggestion further.
As to the second point, the Secretary said that he would convey the Senator's feeling concerning General MacArthur to the President.
After the general discussion on these two points, a number of items were considered as follows:
1. Formosa
Senator Bridges inquired as to our policy toward Formosa, particularly as it related to the size of the program being carried on there from an economic and military standpoint. He wanted to know exactly what we were doing about this question. The Secretary said that we were giving considerable assistance to Formosa and that, while he couldn't provide the complete details before appearing before the Foreign Relations and Foreign Affairs Committees, in as much as this item came within the jurisdiction of these Committees, he would be glad to provide at the hearings a complete general discussion of the Formosa economic and military situation. The Secretary said that he would have to check with Secretary Marshall regarding the military information but was sure that the Secretary would permit him to discuss the military program with the Committee.
2. Guerrilla Activity in China
Senator Bridges asked what the situation was in regard to the guerilla activity in China and the Secretary gave a sketch of the situation as it existed at that time.
3. Hong Kong
Senator Bridges said that he had just recently received a letter from one of his constituents asking for advice as to whether or not the constituent should send fifteen hundred dollars to a relative for the purpose of purchasing a visa in Hong Kong. The constituent indicated that his relative had written him and said it was possible to buy a visa to his country for that figure. Mr. Humelsine said he would be very much surprised indeed if it were possible to buy a visa from a United States official. He was afraid perhaps Senator Bridges' constituent was in the hands of an unscrupulous Chinese who was attempting to victimize him. Mr. Humelsine told Senator Bridges that he would arrange to have the Security office work with Senator Bridge's office and attempt to run this item down. [The Security office is working with Senator Bridges' office at the present time on this item].
4. Underground Movement in the Satellite States
Senator McCarran raised the question of whether the underground movement in the satellite area and in Russia was effective. Secretary Acheson said that he thought it was reasonably effective but that we should not expect anything world shaking to come out of such activity as was taking place there. He said the underground movements were operating in such a manner as to keep everyone suspicious of everyone else.
5. Yugoslavia
Senator Bridges asked what the policy was going to be in regard to Tito and asked the Secretary, "Is it going to be reserved cooperation on our part, and is Tito coming around to our way?" The Secretary explained the general situation in regard to our policy in Yugoslavia, referring to four items. One was the Bishop Stapinac interview; two, the change in the collective system program; three, the decentralizing of economic controls, providing a greater opportunity for local initiative; and four, the cooperative attitude of the Yugoslavs in the military field. The Secretary said that for the first time they were telling us of their deficiencies in this regard.
6. Spain
Senator McCarran raised the question of Spain and asked the Secretary the question, "Are you giving them what they want?" The Secretary replied by saying that we were working in that direction on the sixty-two million dollar program. He went on to say that, while we had certain problems as concerned the relations between Spain and certain of the other countries in Europe, he felt that we were moving in the right direction in Spain and it is as fast a rate as the traffic would bear. Senator McCarran appeared to be satisfied with this answer.
7. Security
Senator McCarran asked whether we were prepared on the security situation, ready to handle that, specifically how many Communists we had in the Department. Secretary Acheson said that Mr. Humelsine was handling this problem and asked him to discuss it. Mr. Humelsine told the Senator that to his knowledge there were no Communists in the Department, that the Department was handling this problem in a most careful way, and that he thought the Department was in an excellent situation to make a first-rate record in regard to the security problem.
8. Use of Counterpart Currencies
Senator Bridges asked the Secretary if full consideration was being given to the maximum use of counterpart funds in the new fiscal requests, particularly as it related to the defense build-up abroad. The Secretary said that he was certain that we were, that he did not have the details of this but would be glad to supply it at the hearings. This was agreed to, with the Secretary making the point that he would have to deal with the mater in a broad way before the Committee in as much as this item was also before the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Relations Committee.
[note: The Secretary asked Mr. Humelsine to get this material prepared. It is attached.]
A:CEHumelsine:jgcThis primary source comes from the Collection HST-DA: Dean Acheson Papers.
Full Citation: Memorandum of Conversation with Carlisle Humelsine, Senator Pat McCarran and Senator Styles Bridges; 4/10/1951; Memoranda of Conversations File, 1949-1953: April, 1951; Secretary of State Files, 1945 - 1972; Collection HST-DA: Dean Acheson Papers; Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/humelsine-mccarran-bridges, April 28, 2024]