278. Memorandum of a Conversation With the President, White House, Washington, August 2, 19571
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION WITH ADMIRAL STRAUSS
Admiral Strauss has returned from a conference with the President to discuss with him the position which should be taken by the United States Delegation to the United Nations with respect to the selection by the Governing Board of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. I was to have attended this meeting with Admiral Strauss but had to leave the White House because of an urgent appointment with Senator Johnson at the Capitol. Admiral Strauss knew my point of view and likewise brought to the President’s attention the two memoranda of conversation which the Secretary had made on October 21 and 24, 1956.2
As a result of this conversation the President agreed that:
- (a)
- the position of the United States Delegation should be to put forward the name of W. Sterling Cole as a candidate on behalf of the United States; and
- (b)
- the Soviet delegation should be advised that the United States did not wish to make any commitments with respect to any other staff personnel but would, of course, feel that the Soviet Government was entitled to representation appropriate to the degree of support of the Agency which the Soviet Government would evidence by making fissionable material available to it.
The President further made the condition with respect to the above that prior assent be received of Congressman Joseph Martin to Congressman Cole’s name being put forward, since the President had some years ago agreed with Congressman Martin that he, the President, would not consider nominating for federal office members of the House of Representatives. Strauss did not at the time make the distinction that this was not a Presidential appointment. This, however, was done in a later conversation between General Persons and Admiral Strauss. The latter is now making arrangements to see both Congressman Martin and Congressman Cole.