503. Telegram From Secretary of State Herter to the Department of State0

Cahto 199. For the President from the Secretary.

“Dear Mr. President:

After my Saturday talk with Gromyko1 and a somewhat similar one Selwyn Lloyd had with him yesterday, it seems probable that we shall spend the next two days trying to find a satisfactory method of disengaging. We are hoping this can be done by agreement, but Gromyko appears to want a complete end to our talks. Selwyn Lloyd is sounding him out on this now. While none of us are happy that after such a long period of time we could not have come up with a better result, the one cheering thing is that all four Western Foreign Ministers are in complete agreement with respect to our position as of now. Selwyn is being very stout even though his backing from home is wobbly.

I hope it will be possible for me to see you Thursday afternoon soon after my return.

Faithfully, signed: Chris.”

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11–HE/8–359. Secret; Niact.
  2. See Document 502.