611.41/7–754
No. 444
President Eisenhower
to Prime Minister Churchill1
Dear Winston: You did not let any grass grow under your feet.2 When you left here, I had thought, obviously erroneously, that you were in an undecided mood about this matter, and that when you had cleared your own mind I would receive some notice if you were to put your program into action. However, that is now past history [Page 1038] and we must hope that the steps you have started will lead to a good result.
I shall of course have to make some statement of my own when your plan is publicly announced. I hope you can give me advance notice as to the date that you will make a public statement on the subject. In this way, I will have time to prepare my own statement carefully.
I probably shall say something to the effect that while you were here the possibility of a Big Three Meeting was discussed; that I could not see how it could serve a useful purpose at this time; that you then suggested an exploratory mission of your own; that I said this would be essentially your own responsibility and decision. Finally, I said that, if you did undertake such a mission, your plan would carry our hopes for the best but would not engage our responsibility.
The fact that your message to Moscow was sent so promptly after you left here is likely to give an impression more powerful than your cautioning words that in some way your plan was agreed at our meeting. Of course, the dating of your message may not become public. This I think would be best because it will call for less explanation from me to the American public. In any event, I think you will agree that your program should be handled with the greatest delicacy to avoid giving either the misapprehension that we are in fact party to it, or the equally dangerous misapprehension that your action in this matter reflects a sharp disagreement between our two countries. I know that you will be aware of these twin dangers and I hope that by understanding and cooperation we can surmount them.
As to the content of Molotov’s message as related in your cable, I can only observe that it must be almost exactly what you would have expected in the circumstances.
I am delighted that you enjoyed your visit here. I think that one of the major advantages we may have gained from it is what seems to me an obvious drawing together of Anthony and Foster in their thinking and relationships.
With warm personal regard,
As ever,