NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY


to operate if we had to against the Soviet Union, but that we would
turn great potential strength to the other side. I said, in response to his
reference to the atomic bomb, that the usefulness of this weapon would
be minimized if the Russians were not required to concentrate and
put on a big effort in order to attack Western Europe. (The Senator,
in reply, tended to be pessimistic about the utility of the atomic
bomb.)
  So far as the Far East was concerned, I said that we were not over-
looking the possibilities of stirring up trouble in China. I spoke of
some of the problems which had to be surmounted and of the fact that
this was not a matter which lent itself to public discussion. I spoke of
the logistical problems which were raised by his suggestion of using
the Nationalist forces for an attack on the mainland while the
operations in Korea were going forward.
  The Senator said that while all that I said was true, it still seemed
to him that we were in danger of wasting our strength in Europe and
that we should concentrate more in the Far East along the lines he
had suggested. I said to him that I thought all these matters required
more time for discussion than we had availlable at the moment and
suggested to him that we would be glad to ask him to come down for
a few meetings with us at which we could brief him more in detail
on particular area problems. He said that he would be glad to do this.
  The next move is therefore up to us. I suggest that Mr. McFall talk
this over with Mr. Webb, Mr. Rusk, and Mr. Perkins and that we
consider having further meetings with Senator Hickenlooper. The
Senator's manner was friendly throughout. My impression was that
he was sincere in wishing to impart his worries to me for any comfort
which I could give him. He did not appear to take much comfort from
what I said.
                                              D [EAN] A[cm-soN]

S/S-NSC Files: Lot 63D351: NSC 97 Series
Report to the National Security Council by the Executive Secretary
                              (Lay)

TOP SECRET                        WASHINGTON, December 28, 1950.
NSC 97
NOTE BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY
           COUNCIL ON A NATIONAL PETROLEURI PROGRAM1
   At the direction of the President the enclosed letter from the Acting
 Secretary of Defense on the subject has been referred to the Director

 1Documentation on U.S. policy with respect to 'the development of the petro-
 lenin resources of the Near East is scheduled for publication in volume
v.


489