Office of the Historian

611.41/4–2654

No. 454
President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Churchill1
top secret
Washington, April 26, 1954.

Dear Winston: Please let me refer again to your suggestion that we have a meeting to talk over things of great significance to our two countries.2 I am continually impressed by the drastic changes in the world situation that each day seems to bring us in this obviously critical period. Likewise, I am deeply concerned by the seemingly wide differences in the conclusions developed in our respective governments, especially as these conclusions relate to such events as the war in Indochina and to the impending conference at Geneva.3

In order that our talks may have the maximum fruitfulness, I think it best to await the return of Foster to Washington before you and I try to work out firm details as to timing and subjects of our conversations. Foster will bring back to me valuable impressions and conclusions that I should study before you and I meet to explore why we seem to reach drastically differing answers to problems involving the same sets of basic facts. Certainly I agree with the thought, implicit in your suggestion, that we must reach a true meeting of minds so that we may work more in concert as we attack the critical questions of the day.

I assure you that I am anxious, as I have always been, to reach a common understanding that will be squarely based upon existing fact and to which both governments can logically adhere to their mutual advantage.4

With warm regard,

As ever,

Ike
  1. Transmitted to London in telegram 5653, Apr. 26.↩
  2. The message under reference has not been further identified. President Eisenhower cabled Secretary Dulles, in Paris for tripartite meetings prior to the Geneva Conference, on Apr. 23 saying that he had received a cable from Churchill asking to visit Washington. For the text of the cable to Dulles, see Tedul 5, Apr. 23, vol. xiii, Part 1, p. 1366. Dulles’ reply to the President’s cable, transmitted in Dulte 8, Apr. 23, is printed ibid., p. 1374.↩
  3. For documentation on the Geneva Conference, which began Apr. 26, see volume xvi.↩
  4. On May 11 President Eisenhower wrote again to Churchill, stating that after consultations with Secretary Dulles he believed that some time in June would be the best opportunity for talks. (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 338)↩