Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Churchill Correspondence with Eisenhower”
No. 401
Prime Minister Churchill
to President Eisenhower
My Dear Friend: Thank you very much for your letter of April 7th about Egypt on which I am pondering.1 I conveyed your message to Anthony who was cheered by it. He is having a hard time but is progressing. As you know, we are having our first meeting with the Egyptians on the 27th and nothing will be agreed to by us except as part of a “package” settlement.2
Your speech about Russia was well received here by all parties.3 I append my statement and that made by Herbert Morrison in reply.4 No dissent was expressed in any part of the House.
I should like to know what you think should be the next step. Evidently we must wait a few days for their reply or reaction. It is not likely that the Soviets will agree about the release of the satellites or a unified Korea. There will, however, be a strong movement here for a meeting between Heads of States and Governments. How do you stand about this? In my opinion the best would be that the three victorious powers, who separated at Potsdam in 1945, should come together again. I like the idea you mentioned to me of Stockholm. I am sure the world will expect something like this to emerge if the Soviets do not turn your proposals down abruptly.
[Page 976]If nothing can be arranged I shall have to consider seriously a personal contact. You told me in New York you would have no objection to this.5 I should be grateful if you would let me know how these things are shaping in your mind.
Yours ever,
- Not printed.↩
- For documentation on the Anglo-Egyptian talks, held at Cairo, Apr. 27–May 6, 1953, concerning Suez, see vol. ix, Part 2, pp. 2051 ff.↩
- Regarding President Eisenhower’s speech on Apr. 16, see the editorial note, supra.↩
- Neither printed.↩
- Regarding Churchill’s conversations with Eisenhower at New York during the first week of January 1953, see Document 373.↩