Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Churchill Correspondence with Eisenhower”
Prime Minister Churchill to President Eisenhower 1
[My Dear Friend:] I should like you to see the following message I sent to Dr. Adenauer which I believe had a fairly good reception. I will write again soon in answer to your letter of August 20.2 Kindest regards.
Message begins. “It seems to me that at this critical juncture a great opportunity has come to Germany to take her position among the leaders of free Europe. By a voluntary act of self-abnegation she could make it clear that in any new arrangement as a substitute for EDC she would not ask for a level of military strength beyond that proposed in the EDC plan or to be agreed with her partners in western defence. This would invest the new Germany with a moral dignity and respect far more worth having than merely claiming the right to create as many divisions as she chose or as anybody else and plunging into an endless legalistic argument on the subject. This might well be expressed in terms in no way derogating from the equal and honourable [Page 1145] status of the German Federal Republic and would indeed open a new chapter by the very fact that the decision was taken on the initiative of Germany herself. I beg you to think this over as coming from one who after so many years of strife has few stronger wishes than to see the German nation take her true place in the worldwide family of free nations.”3
- The source text was delivered to the White House on Sept. 3 by Sir Robert H. Scott; it was then forwarded to the summer White House in Denver for President Eisenhower where it was received on Sept. 5. A copy of the source text was also delivered to the Department of State on Sept. 3 and transmitted to Secretary Dulles in Manila in telegram Tedul 8 the same day. (Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Churchill Correspondence with Eisenhower”)↩
- Not further identified.↩
- In telegram 1349 to London, Sept. 5, the Embassy was instructed to deliver the following message to Prime Minister Churchill: “I think your message to Dr. Adenauer is perfect. I hope he responds favorably. With warm regards, Ike.” (Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Eisenhower Correspondence with Churchill”)↩