203. Editorial Note

On October 2, President Eisenhower wrote to Nkrumah, Sukarno, Nasser, Tito, and Nehru, in response to their letter to him (Document 197). The President reiterated U.S. and his own personal commitment to resolving international questions by negotiation. He pointed out that the Soviet Union, “far from following a comparable policy of restraint, appears to have undertaken with deliberate intent a policy of increasing tension throughout the world and in particular of damaging relations with the United States.”

The President continued: “There is nothing in the words or actions of the government of the Soviet Union which gives me any reason to believe that the meeting you suggest would hold any such promise. I would not wish to participate in a mere gesture which, in present circumstances, might convey a thoroughly misleading and unfortunate impression to the peoples of the world. If the Soviet Union seriously desires a reduction in tensions it can readily pave the way for useful negotiations by actions in the United Nations and elsewhere.”

For full text of the President’s letter, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1960, pages 742–744. The first draft of the letter was prepared in the Department of State, where it was reviewed by Herter. (Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1772)