Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 290
Memorandum by the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Murphy) to the Secretary of State1
Saturday evening I dined with Roger Makins who brought up the subject of the Five Power Military Talks saying that he had just seen the account of the sessions and found that they were most valuable. He stated the opinion that these talks were urgently necessary to “bring down from the clouds” the suggestions which have been made regarding some form of united action in S. E. Asia because we now have some idea about what form or forms of action may be required. He said that “now that Geneva is played out” he is certain that London will be willing, even eager to proceed with the discussions about united action and that the Churchill-Eden visit will provide an excellent opportunity to make a start. He talked about the harm which the press and some commentators had done to U.S.-U.K. relations. He said that it had been absolutely essential for HMG to play the hand straight at Geneva and suggested that events had proved the wisdom of this course. Naturally that could not be explained to the press at the time. Now that we are coming to the end of Geneva we would find a great readiness on the part of his Government to participate in a program for S. E. Asia. He felt that even Nehru had learned something as a result of the events of the past weeks.
Incidentally he offered the information that his Government is providing him with a four-engine airplane on a regular standby basis for his travels in the U. S.
- Drafted by Murphy. The source text bears the notation “Sec saw” in an unidentified handwriting.↩