Office of the Historian

Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204, “Churchill Correspondence with Eisenhower”

Prime Minister Churchill to President Eisenhower 1

secret
[London, December 30, 1954.]

[My Dear Friend:] I am very glad you are intervening personally in this major issue. But Anthony and I both feel the terms of your suggested message2 might be given a less sanguine emphasis. I therefore venture to suggest a modified version (appended) in which I have followed your language but endeavored to preserve the feeling that France has more to do, and that quickly, before she is in line with her allies. Perhaps you would consider this? I should be quite ready to sign it with you, or alternatively we could issue an official statement that we were in full accord with this message.

[Winston]

[Annex]

Draft British Statement

secret
[London, December 30, 1954.]

Text of alternative Joint Statement to be made by the President and Prime Minister referred to in the Prime Minister’s Message:

If the series of actions taken by the French Assembly is the prelude to the speedy ratification of the new treaties signed in London and [Page 1538] Paris last October, it would be a matter of great gratification not only to the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, but to the entire free world. We earnestly trust that this hope will be fulfilled without undue delay. The restoration of sovereignty to the Federal Republic and German participation in N.A.T.O. will add to the defensive strength and solidarity in Western Europe. This progress will reinforce the vote on ratification taken last week by the Italian Assembly which approved Western defence plans by an overwhelming and splendid majority. When decisive cooperation supplants age-old antagonism the prospects for a general and lasting peace will be definitely improved, and a measure of encouragement may therefore even now be felt by all who are earnestly striving to maintain and improve the unity and harmony of the free world.

  1. This message was delivered to the White House on Dec. 30 by British Ambassador Makins, according to covering memoranda attached to the source text; the White House staff sent a copy to the Department of State the same day.↩
  2. Presumably a reference to the joint U.S.–U.K. statement which is attachment 2 to the memorandum of conversation by Lyon, Dec. 29, p. 1534.↩