Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

611.61/4–1554

No. 619
The Acting Secretary of State to Representative Howard S. Miller of Kansas¹

[Washington,] April 26, 1954.

Dear Mr. Miller: The White House has referred to me for reply your letter of April 13, 1954 proposing a conference between President Eisenhower and Premier Malenkov in the hope of reaching an understanding in the interest of world peace.²

I share your deep concern about the unsolved problems outstanding between the Free World and the communist controlled countries, and the effect of those unsolved differences on world peace. It is our view that the best way to eliminate the sources of international tension which threaten world peace is through a step-by-step approach to the solution and settlement of individual problems.

On April 16, 1953 President Eisenhower in an address to the American Society of Newspaper Editors in Washington outlined the steps to be taken toward the accomplishment of world peace; namely, the cessation of hostilities in Korea, Indo-China and Malaya; conclusion of an Austrian treaty; the establishment of a free and united Germany; and the reduction of armaments and agreement for the control of atomic energy. He stated that we are ready to make of the United Nations an institution that can effectively guard the peace and security of all peoples. The President made clear that the United States is ready to do its part in accomplishing these objectives. He asked what the Soviet Union is prepared to do.³

The road shows that a cessation of hostilities has been negotiated in Korea. Because of Soviet intransigence, however, it proved impossible at the Berlin Conference to conclude an Austrian treaty, even on terms previously acceptable to the Soviet Union; to agree on the unification of Germany on terms satisfactory to all; or to reach agreement on proposals put forward by the Western powers designed to reinforce the security of Europe on the basis of existing undertakings. Instead of showing a disposition to come to a mutual agreement on these problems, the stand of the Soviet Government made clear that it was not disposed to take any actions leading to the reconciliation of Europe, the division of which was caused by the Soviet Union.

We are now preparing to discuss the problems of Korea and Indo-China at the Geneva Conference. While the record of the Berlin Conference does not inspire optimism, we continue to hope that the Soviet Government and the communist regimes associated with it will take advantage of the Geneva meeting to solve in good faith the problems which are threatening peace in the Far East.

The Soviet Union has to date given no evidence of a change in its long-standing opposition to the establishment of an effective system of atomic energy control. The Soviet Union continues by its actions to demonstrate that it is not disposed to fulfill the spirit of the provisions of the United Nations Charter to which it is a signatory.

In the absence of evidence through deeds of a sincere disposition on the part of the Soviet Government to solve at the conference table the outstanding problems which threaten peace and security, it would not appear advisable or desirable to promote a meeting between the President and Premier Malenkov which, in the light of the Soviet attitude, could not be expected to be fruitful. Such a meeting would heighten expectations of a peaceful settlement of current problems without providing any realistic basis for arriving at such a settlement. The failure of such a meeting would serve only to deepen present tensions.

Sincerely yours,

Walter B. Smith

1. Drafted by Virginia H. James (EUR/EE) and cleared by Barbour (EUR/EE), Bon-bright (EUR), and Morton (H).
2. Not printed. The letter had been referred to the Secretary of State for reply by Gerald D. Morgan, Administrative Assistant to the President, on Apr. 15.
3. For text of the address, see Document 583.