893.00/2–1449
Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation With the President on February 14 at 12:30 p. m.44
We discussed the letter from the Republican Members of the House to the President on the subject of China.45 I said that there seemed to be three possible courses: One was to make a noncommittal reply, which would probably result in the publication of the correspondence and the charge that the Administration had no policy in China; the second course was to make a vigorous reply setting forth the facts. This inevitably would harm the Chinese Government. A third possible course was for me to get in touch with the signers of the letter and try to have an off-the-record and very frank discussion with them in the hope that that might serve in place of a written reply.
The President thought that the third course should be tried out. He also hoped to acknowledge the letter and, if possible, in the acknowledgment to say that he had asked me to talk with them. This necessitated some exploration by me first. This should be promptly pushed.