343. Editorial Note
In a letter to President Eisenhower, February 19, Prime Minister Macmillan stated that he wished to explore prospects for a summit meeting with the President. Macmillan stated in part:
“I have two invitations to the United States, one for May 31 at the Citadel in Charleston and the other for June 8 at De Pauw. If I were to accept both of these, and if you thought it a good idea, I might meet quite informally with you and Foster in Washington between the two engagements. This would give us an opportunity of discussing together both tactics and strategy.” (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204)
[text not declassified] The Prime Minister [text not declassified] delivered the commencement address at De Pauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and arrived in Washington from Indianapolis on June 9. After a private lunch at the British Embassy, he met with President Eisenhower and Secretary Dulles at the White House that afternoon; see Documents 344–347. Topics discussed included the situations in Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan, relations with President Nasser and with General de Gaulle, and nuclear weapons. Macmillan hosted a dinner in honor of Dulles at the British Embassy that evening.
The next day, June 10, the Prime Minister, following an introduction by President Eisenhower, delivered the commencement address at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Returning to Washington in the afternoon, Macmillan and Dulles discussed the British plan [Page 811] for Cyprus, developments in Yemen, and the world economic situation. Macmillan attended a dinner in his honor at the White House that evening. At a news conference on June 10, Secretary Dulles described Macmillan’s visit as follows: “The talks so far, I might say, if it does not involve disrespect, have been of a rambling character.” (Department of State Bulletin, June 30, 1958, page 1086)
On June 11, Prime Minister Macmillan and Secretary of State Dulles discussed the defense of Southeast Asia and Soviet subversion. In the afternoon, Macmillan, Eisenhower, and Dulles were joined by Ambassador Caccia for a discussion of Cyprus, Indonesia, reduction of British forces in Europe, and proposed amendments to the Atomic Energy Act; see Document 348. Macmillan left Washington on June 11 for a 2-day visit to Ottawa.
Briefing papers, chronologies, and memoranda of conversation for Macmillan’s visit are in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 1020–1022. For the Prime Minister’s account of his trip, see Riding the Storm, pages 490–496.