371. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1
2950. Eyes only Aldrich and Dillon. President and I have been considering desirability of President inviting Eden and Mollet and their Foreign Ministers to come to this country for a tripartite discussion toward the end of November. Topics would presumably include Suez and Middle East matters and NATO problems which will be considered at December meeting, notably problem of strategy and forces and problem of development of NATO along non-military lines.
We should like your personal reactions to these points: (1) Do you favor the idea? (2) Do you believe government to which you are accredited will respond favorably? (3) Should intimation be privately given now that invitation will be forthcoming immediately after election assuming President reelected?
President has said invitation would presuppose there would be no forcible action taken against Egypt prior to the meeting as he would not want to invite them under conditions which might suggest we were joining in such action.
Please discuss this with no one.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.4111/10–2456. Secret; Priority; No Distribution. Drafted by Dulles, cleared by Hoover, and approved by Dulles. Also sent Priority to Paris.↩