<--PREV Doc #159  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #161 Document #160; April 25, 1953 To Winston Spencer Churchill Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Churchill ; Category: Top secret The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part I: Charting a New Course; January 1953 to April 1953 Chapter 2: "A number of misunderstandings": Party and International Struggles   Dear Winston: I am glad to learn from your message of April 22 that Anthony is progressing and hope he will soon be completely restored.1 Your comments about the reception of my recent speech were most welcome and I warmly appreciate the support contained in your statement in the House of Commons and Mr. Morrison's reply.2 As to the next step, I feel that we should not rush things too much and should await the Soviet reply or reaction longer than a few days.3 There is some feeling here also for a meeting between Heads of States and Governments, but I do not think this should be allowed to press us into precipitate initiatives. Premature action by us in that direction might have the effect of giving the Soviets an easy way out of the position in which I think they are now placed. We have so far seen no concrete Soviet actions which would indicate their willingness to perform in connection with larger issues. In the circumstances we would risk raising hopes of progress toward an accommodation which would be unjustified. This is not to say, of course, that I do not envisage the possible desirability at an appropriate time that the three Western Powers and the Soviets come together. We should by all means be alert.4 My thinking concerning a personal contact at this moment runs somewhat along the same line.5 The situation has changed considerably since we talked in New York and I believe that we should watch developments for a while longer before determing our further course. However, if you should find it necessary for some special and local reason to seek a personal contact, we would hope for as much advance notice as you could possibly give us.6 With warm regard, As ever 1 In a letter dated April 21 (AWF/I: Churchill), the Prime Minister had described Eden as progressing though "having a hard time" (on the Foreign Secretary's illness see no. 138). 2 "Your speech about Russia was well received here by all Parties," Churchill reported of Eisenhower's April 16 "Chance for Peace" address (see no. 132). "No dissent was expressed in any part of the House." He enclosed copies of his statement in Commons and that of Opposition Leader Herbert Morrison supporting the initiative. For the remarks (not in the file) see Parliamentary Debates, 5th ser., vol. 514, 1953, p. 650. 3 Churchill asked the President what he thought the next step should be, believing "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 the Heads of States and Governments," he wrote further. "How do you stand on this? In my opinion the best would be that the three victorious Powers, who separated at Potsdam in 1945, should come together again." He supported Eisenhower's idea of meeting at Stockholm. "I am sure the world will expect something like this to emerge if the Soviets do not turn your proposals down abruptly." 4 Eisenhower added this sentence to Walter Bedell Smith's draft of this letter. 5 Churchill had written that if nothing else could be arranged, he would "have to consider seriously a personal contact" with the Soviets. "You told me in New York that you would have no objection to this," he wrote. 6 For subsequent developments see no. 174. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Top secret To Winston Spencer Churchill, 25 April 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 160. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/160.cfm <--PREV Doc #159  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #161

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