=isSenhower: Papers, Lybj-OL (Ann Whitman file) At this point Mr. Cutler suggested that the Council request the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to see what they could suggest in the way of a study and report to the Council before they actually undertake any study. Secretary Herter vointed out that in the UN today the United States was going to propose a greatly expanded technical assistance fund for economic development. (‘The President returned to the meeting at this tine, 10:30 a.m..) Mir. George Allen, Director of the U. 5. Information Agency, seid he felt that many people in the world believe that all our answers to world problems are military answers. This wes a mistaken view which we must nevertheless correct. At present we give too nany opportunities to Soviet propaganda describing us as warmongers. To illustrete his point, Mr. Allen read excerpts from a speech which was being made today by the Secretary of Labor. Mr. Allen pointed out that he wes far from insisting that the public relations factor was the governing factor; but it wes certainly an importent factor. The Fresident commented that in terms of our setting forth our militery capabilities before the world, we were dammed if we aid and carmmed if we didn't. correct. He was not sure thet Mr. Allen's point was The problem wes how to inform our own people in a logical wey of our military capabilities, without at the same tine scaring our allies to decth. Mr. Allen replied that there wes even an wfortmate impression soing around abroad that the President was coing to the forthconing KATO meeting in order to beg our allies to permit us to station atonic weapons on their soil. The President answered that this, of course, vas completely erroneous. We were only trying to assure our allies oF our support if they were attacked. The Vice President, addressing the Fresicent, said that the Fresident covld give essurence on the score of our strencth in very short order at the IIATO meeting. But it also seemed to the Vice Pres- ident that the great apreal that the Fresident exerts in the world todey is thet he was considered to be a man of peace. Accordingly, the Vice President thought that the President's sreatest contribution REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT, D. EISENHOWER LIBRARY would consist in a re-affirmetion of the peaceful objectives and vurposes of the United States. Mr. Allen said that he could not agree more. The Netional Security Council: a. ~ Noted and discussed en oral presentation on the subject by the Special Assistant to the Fresi@ent for Netional Security Affairs; in the light of the enclosures to the -8- ina TOP SEC... SeeE ae concn me