Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Central and Southeastern Europe, Volume XXVI

269. Letter From President Tito to President Eisenhower¹

Belgrade, November 30, 1955.

Dear Mr. President: I am most thankful to you for your message of October 12.² We were all very glad to hear the news that you had recovered and already returned to your difficult duties.

Mr. John Foster Dulles has, surely, informed you on our talks at Brioni.³ I think that this exchange of views on various problems which are of interest to both our governments, particularly from the point of view of the relaxation in the world and the preservation of peace, was very useful. We were all very pleased that Mr. Dulles gave us a clear picture on the course of the Geneva talks, and that he took a keen interest in our views on some problems. It is understandable that our views on some matters are different, but we were very pleased to be able to establish at the Brioni meeting that our basic aims were the same, i.e. to preserve peace and to achieve constructive cooperation among nations.

As far as the results of the Geneva Conference are concerned, it is my personal opinion and the opinion of my associates as well, that these results are not discouraging since the possibility of continuing the talks about problems on which no agreement could be reached, or on which only a partial agreement was achieved, has been preserved. Such an outcome is still significant if we compare it with the situation as it existed two years ago. I think that the “Geneva spirit” from your July meeting has been preserved. Knowing now the views of your Government, which were outlined to us by Mr. Dulles, and, on the other hand, knowing the views of the Soviet Government, I am today much more of an optimist than, for instance, a year ago. It is because we see that your Government as well as the Soviet Government exclude the use of force as a means to solve international problems, and that on both sides there is readiness for talks, though they might take time.

I should like to assure you, Mr. President, that I and my associates will endeavour, as far as it is within our possibilities, to explain to the Soviet leaders our views on various problems. Some signs allow me to believe this may prove to be of some benefit.

I am now leaving to return the visit to the Emperor of Ethiopia,⁴ and on my way home I shall pay a visit to Egypt.⁵ Of course, I have no pretension whatsoever to be a mediator in the conflict between Israel and Egypt, yet I will, as I have already told Mr. Dulles, try in my talks with the Egyptian leaders and with President Nasser to act in the direction of relaxation, in accordance with the principles of our foreign policy.

I thank you warmly for your interest in my health, which is now, after a successful cure at Brioni, very good. Sincerely,

J. B. Tito

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File. Confidential. There is no indication on the source text as to when and by whom the letter was delivered.
2. Document 262.
3. See Document 263.
4. Haile Selassie.
5. Tito’s visit to Egypt in February 1956 was followed by a meeting of Tito, Nasser, and Nehru at Brioni on July 18 and 19. An analysis of the meeting, which reflected the continuing concern of the United States over Tito’s role as a neutralist, is in Intelligence Brief No. 1976, July 26, 1956. (Department of State, PPS Files: Lot 66 D 487)