Presidential Papers, Doc#1285 Cable. Secret To Harold Macmillan, 10 August 1959. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Doc #1286

Document #1285; August 10, 1959
To Harold Macmillan
Series: EM, AWF, DDE Diaries Series ; Category: Cable. Secret
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XX - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace
Part VII: Berlin and the Chance for a Summit; March 1959 to August 1959
Chapter 18: "These extremist approaches"

 

Dear Harold: Your message clearly evidences your deep understanding of some of the problems that, because of my position, beset me whenever I contemplate a visit outside of this country. I am truly grateful that you have written in the fashion that you did. It is exactly what I should expect from such an old and valued friend.1

I am more than flattered by the hope that you and The Queen have expressed that my wife and I can make a State visit to your country some time later this fall. I assure you that our own desire has been no less keen than yours, but of course there are certain obvious obstacles to be overcome. Some of these I should like to talk over with you when we meet later this month. But no matter how important these difficulties may prove to be, I assure you that they will not be made more so by any informal visit that I may be privileged to make upon The Queen and Prince Philip. This was one of the reasons that I was determined to schedule my stay in Britain at somewhat greater length than pure business would demand.2 Additionally, of course, I plan that one day out of the five will be without engagements or work of any kind. Since I am already scheduling a meeting with the Chancellor in his Capital, the day that I had planned to give to him in London can now be my own.3

As you know, I expect to reach London in the evening of the 27th, and from that time on I will be quite available for making the journey to Balmoral according to any schedule that you may think desirable. I should think if we planned to use one day for the purpose this should provide the time to make the round trip as well as to have a few hours at Balmoral. Nothing could please me more than to make such a visit provided that you have no fear that I should occasion any unnecessary fatigue to the Queen.4

Another thing: I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to revisiting some of the scenes that came to mean so much to me in your great country, and even more how hopeful I am of having a real opportunity to see and talk with some of the fine friends with whom I then lived and worked.5

With warm regard, As ever

1 Macmillan had written (Aug. 6, PREM 11/2687) that he wanted to meet Eisenhower at Chequers, the British Prime Minister's country estate, where they could talk with a "minimum of publicity." He understood, he added, that the dates were still tentative. For background on the President's goodwill visits to Bonn, Paris, and London see nos. 1276 and 1282, and London Times, Aug. 8, 27, 28, Sept. 1, 1959, and New York Times, Aug. 26 - Sept. 8, 1959. The State Department would send the text of this message to London on this same day (AWF/I: Macmillan).

2 Macmillan had written that Queen Elizabeth, who was expecting her third child in February, was resting at Balmoral Castle in Scotland (see no. 1282). She had invited the President to make a State visit when she returned to Buckingham Palace in the fall. In December the President would embark on an eleven-nation goodwill tour; Great Britain would not, however, be on the itinerary (see no. 1359).

3 Eisenhower would meet with West German Chancellor Adenauer in Bonn on August 26 (London Times, Aug. 27, 1959, and New York Times, Aug. 26, 27, 1959).

4 Macmillan also had asked the President if he would be interested in visiting the Queen in Scotland if she "felt well enough." Macmillan would suggest that Eisenhower schedule the Balmoral visit on August 28 - 29. Although the President would express concern about imposing upon the Queen for more than a few hours, he would spend the afternoon and night of August 28 - 29 at Balmoral (see Macmillan to Eisenhower, Aug. 11, 1959, and Eisenhower to Macmillan, Aug. 11 and 13, 1959, in AWF/I: Macmillan; on the visit see no. 1301 and New York Times, Aug. 29, 1959).

5 In addition to attending conferences and delivering speeches in London, the President would host a stag dinner for his wartime associates (London Times, Aug. 28, Sept. 1, 1959, and New York Times, Aug. 26 - Sept. 8, 1959; on the stag dinner see no. 1294).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Cable. Secret To Harold Macmillan, 10 August 1959. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1285. 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/second-term/documents/1285.cfm

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