548. Message From Prime Minister Eden to President Eisenhower1
Dear Friend: When you told me of your pre-occupations with Congress during the next two days, I did not feel able to press my suggestion for an immediate meeting. I explained the position to Mollet, who readily accepted these reasons for postponement.
I do, however, hope that it will be possible for us to meet in the very near future. I should feel much more confidence about the decisions and actions which we shall have to take in the short term if we had first reached some common understanding about the attitude which we each intended to take towards a long-term settlement of the outstanding issues in the Middle East. I have for a long time felt that some at least of our troubles there derived from the lack of a clear understanding between our two countries, ever since the end of the war, on policy in the Middle East, and I doubt whether we shall ever be able to secure stability there unless we are working towards common objectives.
It may well be that even wider issues are now at stake. If the Soviets intend to seize this opportunity of intervening by giving substantial support to Nasser, they may create a situation which could lead to major war. Hitherto I have not thought it likely that [Page 1062] Russia would take this dangerous step. I have believed that it was anxious to avoid world war and that, although it would make all possible minor troubles, it would stick to the policy of making mischief by all means short of war. But the new men in the Kremlin may be less coldly calculating than their predecessors and, if so, they may be led into taking a step which may precipitate a really grave situation. The Swiss, as you know, have suggested another “Geneva” meeting. It may be that this would be worth considering.
On matters such as this it is difficult to come to considered conclusions by correspondence. I would feel much happier if we had been able to meet and talk them over soon. It was with these grave issues in mind that I suggested this morning that I might come out to Washington at once. I still hope that it may be possible for us to meet within the next few days, as soon as your immediate preoccupations are over.
Yours ever,