219. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1
1039.FYI: Secretary today signed following letter2 to Macmillan:
“Dear Harold: I am about to leave for New York, first to make the Davis Cup draw and then to launch ‘Alpha’. I hope and believe this latter will turn out to be a constructive move, although obviously we are taking some risks. However, risks are inherent in the situation.
One thing is, however, already a good result—that is the close cooperation between our two Governments in preparing this project. I want to thank you very much. Yesterday Francis Russell showed me the copies of your instructions to your Near East posts with reference to follow-up. I was greatly impressed by the high quality of these instructions—both as regards substance and lucid expression.3
I do not know of any joint project that has been better prepared and if it does not succeed that will not be due, I think, to any lack of care on either of our parts. Faithfully yours,Foster” End FYI.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2555. Top Secret; Alpha; Limited Distribution. Drafted and approved by Gordon, who also signed for Dulles.↩
- According to the record copy,Dulles drafted the letter. (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Alpha) He had the signed original of this letter sent to the British Embassy with the request that Sir Robert Scott “cable it to Mr.Macmillan.” (Message from Robert G. Barnes, Director of the Executive Secretariat of the Department of State, to Sir Robert Scott, British Chargé; Department of State,S/S–NEA Files: Lot 61 D 417, Alpha Volume 9)↩
- This documentation isibid.,NEA Files: Lot 59 D 518, Alpha—Memos and corres., July 1–Aug. 26 (day of Secy’ speech).↩