FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME I


611.61/1-2650
Meimorandm    y the Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional
    Relations (MeFall) to the Under Secretary of State '(Webb)
TOP SECRET                     [WASInNGTON,] January 26, 1950.
Subject: Meeting with Several Senators.,
  In a recent meeting of the Secretary with several senior United
States Senators, some disturbing opinions were expressed on the
world situiation and our policy with respect thereto.
  One Senator stated it as his opinion that the time had now come
when we could no longer subject ourselves to the hazard Of the possi-
bility of Russia having the hydrogen bomb and that because of its
devastating effect, beyond all comprehension, that we must not gamble
any longer with time but 'rather must make a dbmarche upon Russia
indicating that we must consider the failure of Russia ,to agree to
international control and inspection of instruments of mass destruction
to- be in iltself ,an act of aggression which would provoke 'a declaration
of war on our part.
  Another Senator, while indorsing the above sentiments in terms of
the seriousness of the situation with which we are confronted, indi-
cated that he did not feel that he would go quite that far but, none-
theless, he believed that we must turn our thoughts to building up
a much larger military establishment and that "the only possible way
to insure any peace was firstýto "prepar mightily 'for. war."Heindi-
       cated rfpxtrhisghnf                y maorowwas th !indiI
cated 'that his information was that "we could not ,at best, equip 'thirty
military divisions in Europe in less than fifteen years" and that that
time, in his opinion, was too long a period to wait in termsn of the
military potenti-als that are developing.
  Still another Senator explressed the ,view that his constittuents were
constantly after him with statements like "why don't we get into this
thing now and get it over with before the time is too late". This Senator
stated that that 'attitude was growing by leaps and bounds in his State
and ,that- he was compelled to take note of it. While he did not go as far
either as ,the first-named Senator, he nonetheless felt that we must
pursue every scientific means possible to prepare any kind of a 'weapon
that might insure our preeminence in he field of military implements
of warfare.
  Two Other senior Senators took studied exception to fall of the views
heretofore expressed and indicated thatthey felt hat we had to
exercise patience; to move along aggressively wilth economic aid in
areas that might b sub  to subequent Communist 'penetration but
they acknowledged that they were being severely pressed by their
constituents to reduce government expenditures and they were frankly


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