Office of the Historian

711.11 EI/7–2053

No. 420
President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Churchill1

secret
Washington, July 20, 1953.

Dear Winston: Many thanks for your letter of July 17.2 First of all, let me say how greatly I rejoiced at the report of your improved health. Your own country, and indeed the world, can hardly spare you even in semi-retirement. Therefore, I am delighted that you expect to emerge in full vigor by September.

With regard to the Foreign Ministers meeting,3 I had, through Foster, kept in close touch with it and I gained the impression that the programming of a 4-Power meeting was along lines agreeable to you. Indeed, this was the program which I would have presented to you at Bermuda had we been able to meet there. I have the feeling that it could be somewhat dangerous for us to meet with the Russians and talk generalities, at least unless and until it became apparent, through action in relation to Germany and Austria, that they seriously want to get on to a dependable basis with us.

I like to meet on a very informal basis with those whom I can trust as friends. That is why I was so glad at the prospect of a Bermuda meeting. But it is a different matter to meet informally with those who may use a meeting only to embarrass and to entrap. I would prefer to have our Foreign Ministers be the ones to make the first exploration on a limited and specific basis. Furthermore, as President I am very restricted by our Constitution when it comes to leaving the country because I cannot in my absence appoint any Acting President. I have to carry with me all of the paraphernalia of government.

I was very glad to get acquainted with Salisbury when he was here and I have the impression our Foreign Ministers got along well together. Their final communiqué surely showed that close unity and friendship prevail between our countries.

Again, I say, I eagerly look forward to your public reappearance.

With warm personal regard,

Dwight D. Eisenhower
  1. This message was transmitted to London in telegram 362, July 20, with the instruction that it be given to Churchill.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. Regarding the Foreign Ministers meeting, held at Washington, July 10–14, see Document 418.↩