#  Memo Review of President Truman's Assistant, David Lloyd. Summary outline of discussion of long-term international problems for January 1950 

 





November 15, 2025

 

 

 Authors of Memo Review: Patrick Holland, Sargun Kaur, Daeun Kim, Yiwei Wang, Jane Yeboah 

- [ Blog ](/news-categories/blog)
 
 

 

 ![Truman](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/2025-11/Truman%20headshot%20SMALL.jpg)

 

Memo being reviewed:  
[***Summary Outline of Discussion of Long-Term International Problems for January 1950, by David Lloyd***](/sites/g/files/omnuum8096/files/2025-12/Grp%204%20Truman%20MEMO%20CONDENCED_0.pdf "Gr 4 Truman MEMO CONDENCED")

This review examines a memo by President Harry Truman’s assistant David Lloyd, who is providing policy options for foreign investment under the Point Four Program. The memo outlines why international institutions’ support of investment in developing countries is in the long-term interest of the United States.  
The memo was evaluated for its clarity, persuasion, and coherence. Firstly, the memo is concise but challenging to skim. The writer fails to articulate the ‘BLUF’ in the first paragraph, and there is no conclusive recommendation at the end. Although it has subheadings, points are scattered throughout the memo, and multiple reads are required to understand the key issues at stake. The writing style is provocative, but sentences either sprawl into others, or are incomplete, impacting the overall coherence.

On the other hand, the rhetorical tone of the memo is persuasive and well developed. The memo begins by highlighting the key problem, why existing tools are impractical, and then transitions to the recommended solution—greater foreign investment. By consistently incorporating rhetorical questions, Lloyd helps draw the reader to his ultimate proposal. This tone further allows him to proactively address objections and potential barriers to his proposed solution. Together, these elements make the memo compelling by balancing a logical structure with provocative appeal.

Overall, the memo effectively presents a key challenge and argues persuasively for expanding US foreign investment. However, its dense organization and lack of clear structure make it difficult for readers to follow. A more direct summary of key points and a clearer conclusion would have improved its accessibility and impact. Despite these flaws, the memo’s logical flow and rhetorical tone make it compelling.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Memo Review ](/category/memo-review)
- [ Foreign Policy/National Security ](/memo-topics/foreign-policynational-security)
- [ Concision ](/style/concision)
- [ Persuasion ](/style/persuasion)
- [ Policy Problem ](/style/policy-problem)
- [ Policy Solution ](/style/policy-solution)
- [ Skim ](/style/skim)
- [ Compelling ](/topics/compelling)
- [ Concision ](/topics/concision)
- [ Economic Policy ](/topics/economic-policy)
 
 

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