Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 2

Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Churchill Correspondence with Eisenhower”

Prime Minister Churchill to President Eisenhower ¹

top secret

[London, September 9, 1954.]

My Dear Friend: Thank you so much for your message of Sep tember 6.² Adenauer’s response was good and I think his attitude is easier.

2. We are all agreed that an 8–Power Meeting of Allies, plus Canada, would be the right move now and prefer it to the 16 N.A.T.O. Powers proposal, which might well follow it, and we should like very much to have it in London which is a big and well known place and has stood by the Thames for quite a long time without having a Conference of this kind. Anthony, who knows all the Continental personalities involved from long experience, feels that he could smooth out difficulties, queries and objections, of which there are no lack, better by personal contacts than by the interminable interchange of coded messages and arguments. He is, therefore, at the desire of the Cabinet, proposing to start on a flying circuit of Brussels, Bonn, Rome and Paris to see what he can do. We shall keep you and Foster fully and punctually informed.

3. If he succeeds, it seems to me not improbable that we might reach a considerable measure of agreement and that the N.A.T.O. Meeting would follow as the second stage.

4. Of course it is always my hope that the prospects of an improvement in our affairs, arising out of a London Conference might be so good, or the results in sight become so good, that you might be able to come yourself, at least for the finale, and make that State visit I mentioned to you at the White House.³ But that of course is not a matter which requires decision now.

5. I have read what has been disclosed to our people in Washington about the Pentagon’s views on re-appraisal. This, I am sure, would mean disaster if it actually came to pass. I hope, nonetheless, that if such ideas are shaping themselves in Washington, you will let the French know about them at an early stage. It might help them to do their duty.

Kindest regards,

Winston

1. The source text was delivered to the White House by British Embassy officials during the evening of Sept, 9 and an additional copy was delivered to the Department of State at the same time. (Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Churchill Correspondence with Eisenhower”)
2. Presumably a reference to President Eisenhower’s brief note to Churchill of Sept. 5 which was probably delivered to him on Sept. 6; for the text of Eisenhower’s note, see footnote 3, p. 1145.
3. Documentation concerning Churchill’s visit to Washington, June 25–29, is presented in volume vi .