Dear Mr. Prime Minister: I am grateful for your kind message of the twenty-eighth of July and your generous reference to my work at Geneva.1 I share your conclusion that while Geneva could only be a beginning and not an end, nevertheless in fact it turned out to be a good beginning. That good beginning could have been made only with the cooperation of all four of the Delegations that were represented.
You were good enough to suggest that I might visit India as your Government's guest. I can assure you that there are few things which I would rather do. Sentiment carries me far toward acceptance of your invitation. However, I have after deliberation concluded that I cannot accept because that would open up a new scope of responsibility for the President which could not be adequately discharged with those which already appertain to the office. As you know, our Presidents have three major responsibilities: Head of State, Head of Government, and Head of Party. None of these can be delegated. The Vice President functions in an executive capacity only in the event of the incapacity of the President, so that the President must carry all his responsibilities wherever he goes. This characteristic of our Government has created a situation such that Presidents of the United States have never left this hemisphere except for matters of the utmost emergency relating to war and peace. Indeed, it would not be compatible with our form of government for me to get into the practice of making state visits abroad, however personally tempting this prospect is.
I understand, however, that these same considerations do not apply with the same intensity to your form of government and that you are possibly more free than I to travel about. I wonder if you could not be our guest here? I know that you visited the United States some years ago, but a great deal has happened since then and it would be a great satisfaction to me if you could be a guest of our Government during my Administration.2 I recall that both Vice President Nixon and Secretary of State Dulles, who are our two highest Executive officials in position to travel freely, have been your Government's guests.3 They and I should like to reciprocate; you would make us very happy if you could accept.
I am told, incidentally, that the English-Speaking Union, which is one of our most distinguished organizations, is very eager to have you here to speak next fall, I believe on or about November eighth.4 I have been asked by the Union to urge you to accept an invitation which they are planning to extend. If this invitation appeals to you, the visit might be planned to include that occasion. If not, I would be glad if you would suggest an alternative date.5
To turn to other matters, I know that you are pleased, as I am, that some talks are beginning at Geneva between the United States and the Chinese Communists, which I hope will tend to stabilize peaceful conditions in that part of the world.6 The plans in this respect of which I wrote you are thus coming into practical realization.7 Secretary Dulles and I met with Ambassador Johnson, who will be acting for us, and agreed on his instructions which among other things will, I hope, enable him to clear up the status of any Chinese students in the United States who may wish to return to the mainland.8 We are entirely willing to see them go back if they so desire and wish to eliminate any practical obstructions which might frustrate our purpose in this respect.
This morning we are informed that our remaining eleven fliers will be released by the Chinese Communists.9 This is a source of great satisfaction and should do much to lessen the resentment felt in this country toward the Communist regime in China. For all that you and your Government have striven to do in helping bring about this result both the American people, and I personally, are truly grateful.10
Again thanking you for your invitation and hoping we may meet here as I suggest, I am, Sincerely
