352. Editorial Note
In telegram 8020 to London, May 13, the Departments of State and Defense requested the Embassy to extend an invitation from Secretary of Defense McElroy to Minister of Defense Duncan Sandys to visit the United States. (Department of State, Central Files, 033.4111/6–1758) Ambassador Whitney replied, in telegram 6736 from London, May 21, that he had conveyed the invitation to Sandys, who accepted it. (Ibid.) In a letter to Sandys, June 17, McElroy stated that the discussions between Prime Minister Macmillan and President Eisenhower would provide a basis for selecting topics for the talks between the two Ministers of Defense. (Telegram 9016 to London, June 17; ibid. (Regarding the Macmillan–Eisenhower talks, see Documents 343–348.) On June 19, however, Sandys sent the following message to McElroy:
“In view of the present critical situation in Cyprus and in the Middle East, the Prime Minister does not wish me to leave England at this [Page 823] moment. He has therefore asked me to put off my visit to the States for the time being. I am much disappointed since I was greatly looking forward to our meeting. However, in present circumstances it is, I think, unavoidable and I am sure you will understand and will excuse any inconvenience this may have caused. If convenient to you, I suggest that perhaps I might come and see you in the autumn by which time one must hope the international situation will be clearer.” (Telegram 7348 from London, June 19; Department of State, Central Files, 033.4111/6–1958)
The visit was rescheduled for the fall when Sandys, accompanied by Sir Richard Powell, Permanent Under Secretary for Defense, visited Washington September 22–24, for talks with Secretaries Dulles and McElroy. Sandys met with Dulles on September 22, at which time they discussed the Taiwan Straits situation as well as bilateral defense questions, including reduction of British troop levels in Germany. According to a memorandum of a conversation, September 22, prepared by Benson E. L. Timmons, Director of the Office of European Regional Affairs, Sandys raised the possibility of purchasing Thor IRBM missiles from the United States, [text not declassified] (Ibid., Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199)
Sandys met with Department of Defense officials at the Pentagon on the afternoon of September 22 and again September 23–24. According to telegram 3110 to London, September 25, Sandys and McElroy discussed several topics, including the progress of bilateral cooperation on nuclear weapons, the future production of IRBMs, the Taiwan Straits situation, nuclear test suspension negotiations, and a proposal to study methods of advancing interdependence in military production in the two countries. (Ibid., Central Files, 033.4111/6–2558) Memoranda of these conversations have not been found in Department of State files.