Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, National Security Affairs, Volume II, Part 2

Presidential Correspondence files, lot 66 D 204, “Churchill Correspondence”

Prime Minister Churchill to President Eisenhower¹

top secret
personal and private

Washington, December 16, 1953.

I have to tell the House of Commons tomorrow about our meeting² and I send you a draft of what I have prepared on atomic affairs. I hope that you only need to send me an O.K. as time is so very short before I speak at 3:30 p.m. G. M. T. tomorrow Thursday.

I have included nothing of what I shall say about our talks and interchanges upon your U.N. speech as I am giving full support to your inspiring lead and trying to persuade the bear to stop growling. I shall make it clear that I no more write your speeches than you write mine and I expect to stave off questions about the untruthful press, rumours of which there have certainly been no lack.

I shall defend Foster for speaking frankly to the French in Paris about EDC.³ Anthony and I both believe the secondary reaction may be favourable.

Kindest regards,

Winston

[Enclosure]

Draft of Prime Minister’s Speech on Atomic Affairs

I discussed with the President a number of points affecting our two countries about the atomic problem. Lord Cherwell had already made some progress in the autumn when the Americans agreed to exchange some information with us about the effect on various targets of atomic explosions. As they have made … bomb tests as against our three, they have a great deal of knowledge on these matters, so that this agreement is of considerable value. At Bermuda it was clinched, and I hope it will soon be put into effect.

The other important matter we discussed was the exchange of information on intelligence matters. We hope to enlarge the area over which these exchanges can take place without in any way infringing the McMahon Act which has so often prevented cooperation between our two countries. It is this Act of course which sets limits to the exchange of technical information. But this is all getting into an easier atmosphere.

We in Britain, thanks to the secret exertions of the leader of the Opposition in bygone years, already know almost as much as our American allies, and it is probably true that our Russian fellow mortals (because that is what they are) may well know almost as much as either of us. At any rate, I hope results will in due course become apparent which will bring Britain and the United States into closer, more agreeable and more fertile relationship upon atomic knowledge. Secondly, the President and I have asked Lord Cherwell and Admiral Strauss, who are very good friends, to prepare a record of the history of Anglo-American cooperation in the atomic field since the subject first cropped up during the war. When this compilation is complete the President and I will consult together about publication.⁴

1. A covering “Memorandum for the Acting Secretary of State” from Presidential Secretary Ann C. Whitman reads: “Attached is copy of a message the President just received from the Prime Minister.”
2. Prime Minister Churchill’s remarks to the House of Commons on his meeting with President Eisenhower and Premier Laniel at Bermuda are printed in Hansard, Parliamentary Debates, 5th Series, vol. 522, pp. 578–586.
3. Regarding Secretary Dulles’ comments at Paris in December 1953 regarding an “agonizing reappraisal” of U.S. commitments to European defense should the EDC treaty not be ratified, see the editorial note, vol. v, Part 1, p. 868.

4. Eisenhower replied in niact telegram 3214 to London, Dec. 16, 1953, “eyes only Chargé to be delivered to the Prime Minister,” as follows: “Dear Sir Winston: Just this minute I received your cable and immediately consulted with Admiral Strauss. He points out that the last sentence of your first paragraph is somewhat in error because the agreement on this point was firmed and announced here several weeks before the Bermuda talks took place.

   “Admiral Strauss also suggests that before you make your talk you consult again with Lord Cherwell about the final two sentences. He feels that Lord Cherwell might want you to be very general and indefinite in talking about a possible white paper. Having said all the above, I assure you that we have no objection to the paper. With warm regard, Ike”. At the bottom of this telegram, Under Secretary of State Walter Bedell Smith had written: “Deliver immediately to Chargé or highest ranking political officer.” (Disarmament files, lot 57 D 688, “Eisenhower Corr. with Churchill”)