Presidential Papers, Doc#54 Winston Spencer Churchill, 24 February 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Document #54; February 24, 1953
Winston Spencer Churchill
Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Churchill
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 1: Developing a spirit of teamwork

 

Message to be transmitted to the Prime Minister of Great Britain: I read your personal letters regarding Egypt with great interest and confess with some concern.1 However, as you know, we are in general accord with the agreed position arrived at during the January conference in London.2 I would rather not make final decision on the other matters you mention, such as military representation during Suez discussions until Dulles and I have had an opportunity to discuss the entire problem with Eden, who I understand arrives next Wednesday.3

As you know, I have highest regard for Slim and personally feel his participation in discussions will have good and stabilizing effect.4

With warm regard, As ever

1 The British Prime Minister had written on February 18 surveying the situation in Egypt, where General Muhammad Naguib had been in power since September 1952. Late that year the British and the Egyptians had resumed negotiations on several difficult points--the British role in future control and maintenance of the Suez Canal, the British timetable for Sudanese independence, and Egyptian participation in the planned Middle East Defense Organization. Churchill requested that Eisenhower "consider favourably placing a first class American military figure" with the U.S. Ambassador in Cairo to complement Churchill's own attempt to shore up the British negotiating position (see below). On February 20 British Ambassador Roger Makins had conveyed another message from Churchill, this one requesting a prompt reply to his note of the eighteenth (State, Foreign Relations, 1952-1954, vol. IX, The Near and Middle East, 2 pts. [1986], pt. 2, pp. 1989-91; Makins to Eisenhower, Feb. 20, 1953, AWFI/I: Churchill).

2 In mid-January discussions in London had produced U.S.-U.K. agreement on the outline of a general settlement by which the British would slowly depart from Egyptian territory while maintaining a canal zone base for use in time of war; the British and the Egyptians would make arrangements for air defense of Egypt; Egypt would participate in Middle East defense; and Egypt would receive military and economic assistance (State, Foreign Relations, 1952-1954, vol. IX, The Near and Middle East, pt. 2, pp. 1966-67).

3 Eden would meet with the President the evening of March 4 and at a White House luncheon on March 6.

4 Recently named Australian Governor General, Field Marshal Sir William Joseph Slim, had served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff beginning in 1948 and had worked closely with Eisenhower on NATO military planning (Galambos, NATO and the Campaign of 1952, nos. 107, 482, 722). Churchill in his letter of February 18 had mentioned Slim as a likely military representative in Egypt during talks with Naguib; as "one of our strongest military personalities," Slim would provide guidance for the British Ambassador (State, Foreign Relations, 1952-1954, vol. IX, The Near and Middle East, pt. 2, p. 1990).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Winston Spencer Churchill, 24 February 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 54. 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/54.cfm

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