My dear Mr. Prime Minister:
I want you to know that General Gruenther delivered to me the letter which you entrusted to him.1 He also gave me a full account of his conversation with you, and I thank you for the frankness and friendliness with which you have expressed your views.2
As you are doubtless aware, I have, since the very beginning of the present crisis, said that although we felt that the decision to take up arms against Egypt was an error, we were determined to heal the breach and repair as rapidly as possible the temporary damage caused to the Western alliance by recent events. Obviously compliance with the Resolutions of the United Nations is of the essence.3
I wish to take this opportunity to assure you that this is still the firm intention of my Government. The importance of the Atlantic community to us all is undiminished. Indeed, events in Eastern Europe reveal more vividly than could any words of mine, how essential it is, now and for the future, that our association and common purpose be maintained and strengthened. In this respect, the views expressed by General Gruenther, in his last major speech before leaving Europe, correspond entirely with mine.4 We cannot, however, expect all this to happen by itself. The task calls for all our mutual effort and resolve, on both sides of the Atlantic. I have no doubt whatever that we will succeed and that we will continue to follow steadfastly, all together, the road we have traveled since the end of the war, in quest of peace, justice and security in the world.
I feel that we must now look toward the future in order to start moving forward again. I am aware of the heavy strain imposed on Europe's economy by the dislocation of the traditional sources of supply of oil, and I realize that the inevitable shortage will cause hardship through lack of adequate heating and unemployment at the start of a winter.
Our companies are doing their best to mitigate the effects of this shortage. We have been planning urgently in the hope it will be possible soon to take more coordinated actions to alleviate the situation. In the meantime, we will cooperate with the OEEC to the fullest extent possible in its efforts to cope with the problem so that as much oil as possible can be shipped to the countries of Europe by alternative routes. When it is possible to reactivate our Middle East Emergency Committee, it too will work closely with the OEEC on the problem.5
And, of course, none of us can afford to forget that any permanent solution to the fuel problems of Western Europe requires access to the Mid East oil supplies. In turn this means that we must not create such resentments among Mid East governments that they will be unwilling, even at great cost to themselves, to supply Western European markets.6
It is my hope that the situation in the Middle East can rapidly be stabilized, thanks to the efforts of the United Nations in Egypt which you know we are backing in every way. We have been guided throughout this period only by the urgent desire to limit and stop the fighting, and to establish the basis for permanent and just solutions of the problems of the Suez Canal and of Israeli-Arab relations. I feel we must be in a position to exploit to the full the opportunities, which the heroism of the peoples of Poland and Hungary have given us all, and to expose the brutality and vulnerability of the Communist system.7 Soviet imperialism is moving on several fronts and we must mobilize in the United Nations the conscience of the whole world, and not merely of the West, against this imperialism.
I, too, look forward to seeing you again, and will welcome the chance of discussing with you and our British friends many matters of common concern. Much as I would have liked to be able to do this sooner, it was my personal judgment, on reflection, that the best interests of us all required that our meeting be postponed until the circumstances were more propitious. I believe that our talks when they take place will be more productive than they could have been earlier.8
In conclusion, let me say again that I greatly appreciate the spirit in which you have written to me. I am confident that the way will be found to press forward all together with renewed vigor and resolve for the triumph of those values to which our two countries have for so long been dedicated.
With kindest regards, Sincerely yours
