Dear
Al: This morning Mr. Dillon, the new Ambassador to France, called to see me.1 He will sail from New York Saturday noon on the U.S.S. America, and will land at Le Havre about a week later. I think he is a very able man and one that you will like.
I have suggested to him the institution of a "get together" plan for the American representatives in Britain, France, West Germany, and sometimes including those of Italy and Belgium. Of course on special occasions the list could be made even more extensive.
My idea is that about once every two months he could, on a fairly confidential basis, invite both Mr. Aldrich and Dr. Conant to come in for a weekend, thus giving to them a chance to discuss various problems from the viewpoints of the different areas. The reason I am writing to you about this idea is that occasionally you might want to take advantage of such a meeting to get a little help in some of your own military projects. (I am assuming, of course, that you normally act for Ridgway, as you did for me, as a sort of Ambassador in this type of informal meeting.)
Of course the meetings would lose all value and would, indeed, become almost impossible if they should become publicized. Other Ambassadors would feel neglected and other countries would feel that there was some nefarious plot afoot.
The real genesis of the idea was the realization that most of the serious problems of the day have a regional, as well as a national, aspect. A proposal was made to me that we establish in each of such regions--Europe, Mid East, Indonesian Area, South America, and so on--a regional Ambassador who would be a sort of travelling teletype. This idea I rejected as having the effect of weakening and cheapening the title of Ambassador. We have too many now. On the other hand, I believe that regional meetings could be very valuable indeed if they can be kept social in appearance and out of the headlines. I have especially high hopes for something of this sort in the Paris area because of the fact that so many of our problems and interests seem to center in that region.2
This afternoon Mamie and I plan to dash off to Augusta to be there Friday and Saturday, returning Sunday. I am almost like a little boy in my anxiety to get started. I am fearful that something will come up at the last minute of an "emergency" character.
Give my love to Grace, and of course, warm regard to yourself. As ever
