Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file
No. 392
Prime Minister Churchill
to President Eisenhower1
I am sure that everyone will want to know whether you still contemplate a meeting with the Soviets. I remember our talk at Bernie’s2 when you told me I was welcome to meet Stalin if I thought fit and that you intended to offer to do so. I understood this as meaning that you did not want us to go together, but now there is no more Stalin I wonder whether this makes any difference to your view about separate approaches to the new regime or whether there is a possibility of collective action. When I know how you feel now that the personalities are altered I can make up my own mind on what to advise the Cabinet.
I have the feeling that we might both of us together or separately be called to account if no attempt were made to turn over a leaf so that a new page would be started with something more coherent on it than a series of casual and dangerous incidents at the many points of contact between the two divisions of the world. I cannot doubt you are thinking deeply on this which holds the first place in my thoughts. I do not think I met Malenkov but Anthony and I have done a lot of business with Molotov.
I am so glad we have reached an agreement about joint negotiations in Egypt.
Kindest regards.
- This message was transmitted in a letter from Ambassador Makins to President Eisenhower, dated Mar. 11.↩
- Prime Minister Churchill had visited Bernard Baruch in New York City during the first week of January 1953; regarding his discussions with President-elect Eisenhower at that time, see Document 373.↩