334. Editorial Note
On October 11, Secretary Dulles met with President Eisenhower at Fitzsimons Hospital, Denver, Colorado. A memorandum of the conversation by Dulles reads in part as follows:
“We then spoke of the Soviet arms deal for Egypt. I said that this was creating widespread repercussions, which could not yet be fully appraised, and it might at a later date require considered attention by the two of us. I thought, however, that it would be useful now to indicate to Bulganin that the matter had the President’s attention and concern. I said that Eden had written a quite long and strong letter to Bulganin, but I felt that it was better from the President’s standpoint only to touch on the matter lightly.
“I then showed the President a suggested form of letter, which he read and indicated met fully with his approval, and he then signed it.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President)
The letter from the President to Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers Nicolai A. Bulganin reads as follows:
“Dear Mr. Chairman:
“I am concerned about the new prospective arms shipments to Egypt. I fear that they will not promote the goals which, I hope we have in common—that is a relaxation of tensions between us and a peacefully constructive solution of the Arab-Israel problem.
“I write this in the same spirit of frankness that you invoked in your letter to me of September 19th.
“With best wishes,
“Sincerely,Dwight D. Eisenhower”
It was transmitted to Moscow in telegram 432, October 11. (Department of State, Central Files, 774.56/10–1155) Telegram 872 from Moscow, October 12, reported that ChargéWalter Walmsley had delivered the message that day. (Ibid., 774.56/10–1255)
For information concerning Bulganin’s September 19 message to Eisenhower, see footnote 4, Document 303.