174. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State1
4623. In my initial courtesy call on Macmillan Friday afternoon,2 conversation generally confined to amenities. PM was cordial and in good spirits, although I thought he seemed somewhat tired. He is evidently greatly looking forward to the Bermuda meeting,3 but did not raise matters of substance in connection with the issues which will be discussed there. He expressed hope that agenda could be restricted to as few subjects as possible.
Macmillan referred to forthcoming further round of disarmament talks here and noted his concern at possibility Soviets might at some time decide to talk seriously on disarmament. He speculated on dangers which would result from any appreciable disarmament at this time in the light of the uncertainties of the international situation, mentioning obvious Soviet superiority if arms should be mutually reduced to extent, as he put it, that both sides should be left with walking sticks. While at one point in discussion this subject he appeared to place reliance on trip-wire concept of European defense, he readily agreed in response to our comment that force shield in Europe is essential.
PM also raised subject of situation which has developed with the UN as instrument for execution Western policies and objectives. He did not dwell at any length on familiar UK theme that original Western controls over UN actions have been frustrated in recent past, creating dangerous situation for Western powers in future. He confined himself [Page 457] to referring to procedural difficulties in operating body such as UN which has not built up background of parliamentary practice and regulation essential to such institutions.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 330.13/3–457. Secret.↩
- March 1.↩
- See Document 179.↩
- John Hay Whitney presented his credentials on February 28.↩