611.00/9–2553
Memorandum by the Counselor (MacArthur) to the Secretary of
State
secret
Washington, September 25, 1953.
Mr. Secretary: I understand it was not feasible to discuss with the President
yesterday the question of American prestige abroad. The memorandum to the
President which I prepared for your consideration was returned to me. I am
attaching it hereto because I don’t know precisely how to proceed without
further guidance from you. The memorandum envisaged transmitting copies of
Ambassador Dillon’s and Ambassador Aldrich’s report.1 This seemed the best way to
handle the matter since the hard core of free world strength outside of the
U.S. rests in Continental Europe, and France and the U.K. are the key allied
countries in Europe. The President has a limited amount of time and I did
not think that for the purposes of this exercise it was necessary to get
into the Far East, Middle East or Latin America. The real problem is how
Europe looks at us for if we can maintain our position of leadership with
respect to Europe, we can do many things in the Near East, and Far East
particularly, which otherwise would be extremely difficult.
[Page 1544]
I gather you question the procedure in presenting this matter to the
President and I would be grateful for your guidance.
[Attachment]
Memorandum by the Secretary of
State to the President2
secret
Washington, [undated.]
- Subject:
- American Prestige Abroad
After we discussed, some weeks back, certain reports indicating that
American prestige might be on the decline in some quarters abroad, I
asked our representatives in key missions for their frank and
confidential estimates of local attitudes toward the United States. I
have now received these reports and enclose herewith those of Ambassador
Aldrich and Ambassador Dillon, which are of particular interest because
of the great importance of both Britain and France to many of our
collective endeavors. The other reports from European capitals were
along the same lines.
Several weeks ago the NSC directed that
an overall study be made on the status of American prestige abroad, and
I understand this will be presented shortly. Representatives of the
Department of State have participated with representatives of other
interested executive agencies in the preparation of recommendations to
the NSC.
It is worth noting two points which stand out in practically all of the
reports received from our mission chiefs. The first is that your own
personal position is unique in the estimation of the peoples of other
countries. It is quite clear that you are regarded as the spokesman of
the free world. The second point is that domestic American political
events have had a significant effect on our friends abroad. The change
of administration, after twenty years of democratic control, undoubtedly
carried with it a period of uncertainty for other governments and
peoples. But more than the change of administration in itself, the acts
of members of the legislative branch, particularly, have given rise to
doubts. “McCarthyism” seems to have become a symbol of irresponsibility,
not only of their elected representatives, but of the American people
themselves, and is regarded in some quarters as reflecting a basic
weakness in the institutions of our republic.
