110.11 DU/9–954

Foreign Secretary Eden to the Secretary of State, at Tokyo1

secret
priority

[Dear Foster:] I am most grateful to you for your message from Manila,2

I quite agree that an early conference is now out of the question and you will have heard that I am proposing to do some preparatory work by visiting Brussels, Bonn, Rome and Paris. It would certainly be a mistake to hold any conference until the ground has been thoroughly prepared.

It is very kind of you to suggest coming to Europe for the week-end of September 18–20. I shall look forward to discussing these problems with you. But would it not be better to consider date and methods of further consultations after I have seen Adenauer on September 12 in Bonn? I will send you a further message from there. I would not wish to expose you to the burden of making two trips to Europe in quick succession. For I still think that since this is a European problem any conference or conferences should for psychological reasons be held in Europe.

[Kindest regards,

Anthony ]
  1. The source text was delivered to the Department of State by officials of the British Embassy at 5 p.m. on Sept. 9 and was transmitted to Secretary Dulles in Tokyo in telegram 528 within the hour. Secretary Dulles visited Tokyo on his way back from the Manila Conference.
  2. Presumably a reference to Secretary Dulles’ message to Eden of Sept. 8, p. 1155.