307. SPANISH-UNITED STATES EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST: Letters Exchanged by the Spanish Chief of State (General Franco Bahamonde) and the President of the United States (Eisenhower), August 24 and September 2, 1959 1

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General Franco Bahamonde to President Eisenhower

AUGUST 24, 1959

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: Allow me, first of all, to thank you for your sacrifices and efforts to assist our western world and to lead it along the path of peace and understanding and in particular for the aid and benefits that Spain is receiving from the United States under your administration.

There are many people who do not fully realize that in the present circumstances, lack of action, inertia and an exclusively defensive attitude would lead, in no time, to defeat, and that in today's situation, all contacts are useful which seek to unveil the immediate aims of our opponents. As for the general and permanent aim of universal domination held by the Soviets, I know, that such a great soldier and strategist as you yourself are, always keeps it clearly in mind. For this reason, I reject the view of those who, forgetting your personal record, are fearful of the consequences of your meeting with Khrushchev.2

When the late lamented Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, visited us, we reached full agreement on our assessment of the general situation and on the needs of the hour. I have no doubt that the same identity of views will be reached at the forthcoming meetings of our Foreign Minister and Your Excellency and with your Secretary of State.1

Your Excellency is well aware that western superiority based as it is, on the industrial power of the United States and its ability to adapt it to the needs of war, could be weakened, should the Soviet Union develop fully all its industrial potential and western Europe fails to reinforce its unity and its state of preparedness. The nations of our continent, as you will know, easily tend to disunite. I consider your presence here your prestige-most useful in forging unity.

1 White House press release dated Sept. 2, 1959 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Sept. 21, 1959, pp. 404–405).

'See post, docs. 313–317.

3 See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1957, pp. 617-618. This visit took place in London Aug. 31, at the residence of the American Ambassador. Following the meeting, the Press Secretary to the President read the following statement:

"The Spanish Foreign Minister, Fernando Maria Castiella, paid a visit to the President and the Secretary of State this afternoon at the residence of Ambassador Whitney. The Foreign Minister conveyed to the President the complete confidence of the Spanish Chief of State in the success of the President's mission in Europe aimed at consolidating peace. The President expressed to the Spanish Foreign Minister his appreciation of the cooperation received from our Spanish friends in connecton with the bases which the United States, with Spanish cooperation, has constructed in Spain. The President_concluded by asking the Foreign Minister to convey his best wishes to General Franco."

I cherish the hope, my Dear General, that whenever the international situation permits, you and Mrs. Eisenhower, will in the course of one of your journeys, visit our country.5

With confidence in and sincere best wishes for the success of your great mission, I offer you, the assurance of my consideration and friendship.

FRANCISCO FRANCO

President Eisenhower to General Franco Bahamonde

SEPTEMBER 2, 1959

DEAR GENERAL FRANCO: Thank you for your cordial letter of August 24, 1959, delivered to me by your Foreign Minister, Mr. Fernando Maria Castiella, when he called on me in London on August 31.o

I am of course pleased to know that you think well of the planned exchange of visits between Mr. Khrushchev and myself and that you clearly understand the basic thought that I have in mind in this connection.

I appreciate also your reference to the aid which we have extended to Spain in order to help our Spanish friends to assume certain responsibilities in defense of the west.

The agreements signed between our two countries in 1953 have produced good results for both of us. I am happy to have this opportunity to express to you my appreciation of the spirit of cooperation with which you have worked with us on the construction and operation of our joint bases. They are an important element in the common defense.

I should like also to congratulate you on the bold new economic program already auspiciously begun and on your membership in the OEEC. This constitutes another important link in forging the European unity to which you refer.

Your gracious invitation to Mrs. Eisenhower and me to visit your beautiful country so full of artistic treasures and historic landmarks is greatly appreciated. I hope that some day we shall have the opportunity to enjoy the friendly Spanish hospitality about which we have heard so much.

In the meantime, dear General, please accept my renewed thanks for your best wishes which are fully reciprocated.

Sincerely,

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

5 See ante, doc. 255.

See footnote 4, above.

7 Agreement of Sept. 26, 1953; text in American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Basic Documents, pp. 1696–1698.

8 See ante, doc. 158.

308. FRENCH-UNITED STATES REVIEW OF POLICIES IN AREAS OF MUTUAL INTEREST: Joint Communiqué Issued at Paris at the Conclusion of Meetings Between the President of the French Republic (General de Gaulle) and the President of the United States (Eisenhower), September 3, 19591

The President of the United States and the President of the French Republic have had, during the day of the 2nd and 3rd of September, meetings, during the course of which all the questions which are of interest to the two countries have been discussed. The Prime Minister of the French Republic 2 and the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs took part in these meetings. The conversations between the former comrades-in-arms of the Second World War took place in the very friendly and cordial atmosphere which has traditionally characterized Franco-American relations.

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3

President Eisenhower set forth to General de Gaulle his views on U.S.-U.S.S.R. relations on the eve of Mr. Khrushchev's visit to Washington and in view of the expected visit of the President of the United States to Moscow. The two Chiefs of State expressed their complete agreement on the question of Berlin. They also agreed that a Summit Conference, useful in principle, should take place only when there is some possibility of definite accomplishment.

African problems in general and those which relate to North Africa in particular were discussed at some length. The President of the United States and the President of the French Republic stressed their devotion to the Atlantic alliance. They exchanged views with respect to means of assuring a more efficient functioning of this alliance.

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The two Presidents reaffirmed the importance they attach to the resumption of negotiations on general and controlled disarmament as well as to the problem of assistance to the under-developed areas. They also examined the means of organizing better cooperation between the two countries in the world as a whole, especially through the expansion of consultations on all major problems, political as well as military.

1 White House press release dated Sept. 3, 1959 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Sept. 21, 1959, pp. 411-412).

For the itinerary of the President's tour of European capitals, see footnote 2 to doc. 303, ante.

2 Michel Debré.

3 Maurice Couve de Murville and Christian A. Herter.

'See post, docs. 313-317.

5 See ante, doc. 300.

6 See ante, docs. 229–241.

7 See post, docs. 391-399. 8 See post, docs. 476-493.

309. ITALIAN-UNITED STATES REVIEW OF EAST-WEST PROBLEMS: Joint Communiqué Issued at Paris at the Conclusion of a Meeting Between the President of the United States (Eisenhower) and the Prime Minister of Italy (Segni), September 3, 1959 1

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President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Segni met today in the private residence of the United States Ambassador in Paris. Secretary of State Herter and Foreign Minister Pella were also present at the meeting, which lasted nearly two hours.

The international situation was carefully examined in the light of the conversations which President Eisenhower has had recently in Europe and in view of the exchange of visits which will take place in the near future with the Soviet Prime Minister.2

The principal East-West problems were taken into consideration. Full identity of views resulted as to all questions examined.

Particular attention was devoted to the problem of disarmament and it was agreed that a controlled and balanced limitation of armaments represents the most appropriate means to guarantee peaceful relations between East and West.

The President and the Prime Minister stated once more that the West intends to pursue every effort to consolidate peace with justice. They have also emphasized their firm determination to safeguard, through a common policy implemented in the framework of the Atlantic alliance and through further development of European collaboration, the freedom and security of the West.

In view of Italian interest in East-West problems and of the contribution which Italy can give to their solution, President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Segni will resume their consultations in Washington, immediately after the visit of the Soviet Prime Minister to the United States, on the occasion of the official visit of Prime Minister Segni.3

310. GREEK-UNITED STATES REVIEW OF GENERAL QUESTIONS OF INTEREST TO BOTH COUNTRIES: Joint Statement Issued at Paris at the Conclusion of a Meeting Between the Secretary of State (Herter) and the Greek Foreign Minister (Averoff-Tossizza), September 4, 1959 *

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The Foreign Minister of Greece, Mr. Averoff, and Secretary of State Herter conferred in a cordial atmosphere for about three quarters of an hour this afternoon at the residence of Ambassador Houghton. They reviewed general questions of interest to both countries on

1 White House press release dated Sept. 3, 1959 (text as printed in President Eisenhower's European Trip, August-September 1959 (Department of State publication 6888), pp. 29-30).

which there was a wide area of agreement. Among the subjects discussed was the forthcoming trip of Soviet Premier Khrushchev to the United States. Mr. Averoff was accompanied by Ambassador Melas, Greek Ambassador to NATO. Secretary Herter was assisted by Deputy Under Secretary of State Merchant.

311. TURKISH-UNITED STATES REVIEW OF MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST: Joint Statement Issued at Paris at the Conclusion of a Meeting Between the Secretary of State (Herter) and the Turkish Foreign Minister (Zorlu), September 4, 19591

The Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr. Zorlu, had a discussion lasting 45 minutes this afternoon with Secretary of State Herter at Ambassador Houghton's residence. They reaffirmed their common support of NATO. They discussed matters connected with the Central Treaty Organization (formerly the Baghdad Pact) in the light of the forthcoming Ministerial meeting of the Organization to be held in Washington beginning October 7.2 Their talks also embraced an exchange of views on the visit of Soviet Premier Khrushchev to the United States and the contemplated visit of President Eisenhower to the Soviet Union, and also the President's visits to Bonn, London and Paris.* They likewise discussed American-Turkish relations, including the mutual security program in Turkey. Their conversation, conducted in a spirit of cordiality, revealed general agreement on the above subjects. Mr. Zorlu was accompanied by Ambassador Sarper, Turkish Ambassador to NATO.

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312. RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S TOUR OF CERTAIN EUROPEAN CAPITALS: Address by the President (Eisenhower) to the Nation, September 10, 1959 (Excerpts)1a

In these next few minutes, I should like to talk to you mainly about my recent European trip.

During the past 2 weeks I have conferred, as you know, with Chancellor Adenauer of Germany,2a Prime Minister Macmillan of Britain,sa

1 These excerpts are taken from the text printed in President Eisenhower's European Trip, August-September 1959 (Department of State publication 6888), pp. 32-36. The President's address was carried by the principal radio and television networks.

2a See ante, doc. 305.

Ja See ante, doc. 306.