Eisenhower To Have Vital Berlin Talks

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 11

Eisenhower To Have Vital Berlin Talks

(Rec. 11 p.m.)

LONDON, August 22.

President Eisenhower’s five-day visit to Britain, which will start next Thursday, will combine a sentimental return journey to the scenes of his war life with vital personal talks on the Berlin crisis with the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) the main object.

The Eisenhower - Macmillan talks are to be compressed into 48 hours of the President’s stay and will take place with a minimum number of officials present. Every effort is being made to allow the two statesmen to talk over the East-West situation in a relaxed and secluded atmosphere. Chequers, Mr Macmillan’s official residence, in Buckinghamshire, will be closed to all except a few officials and servants. . At this conference, the central feature of the President’s British visit, there will be exceptional security and secrecy measures.

It is believed that household duties will be taken over by picked officials. Contact with ’ the press is in the hands of four top briefing officers who will commute to the press centre in London by helicopter. There will be no chance of contact with other participants at the essential talks.

According to usually wellinformed diplomatic sources, Mr M&millan’s aim at the Chequers talks wiU be to convince the President that a compromise solution of the Berlin and German problems with Russia is possible.

London observers recognise that a bluntly opposite view point may be put to President Eisenhower by the West German Chancellor (Dr. Adenauer) in Bonn before he arrives in London. But the essential British view of the Berlin and German problems remains as stated during the interrupted Geneva Foreign Ministers’ conference. Mr Macmillan is believed to be anxious to restate It to the President before the entire debate is

carried on to the top level during the exchange of visits with the Russian Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev).

The British view, in a nutshell, remains that the establishment of an all-German committee for the reunion of Germany could be achieved on satisfactory terms provided no intervening change is made in the status of West Berlin. But reports from Bonn since the latest adjournment of the Geneva conference earlier this month, that Dr. Adenauer will oppose an all-German working body, indicate a possibly tense, fresh debate between the Western Powers.

Outside the Chequers conference, the President’s visit is being planned to entertain and interest him to the greatest extent possible. His visit to the Queen at Balmoral will be a meeting with a family on holiday. In London on August 31 and September 1, President Eisenhower faces rather more routine formality. He is due to confer with the Spanish Foreign Minister (Mr Fernando Maria Castiella).

On the evening of August 31, the President and Mr Macmillan are to make a joint television appearance from 10 Downing Street, where they will dine.

President Eisenhower will also drive down the ceremonial route through the Strand and Fleet Street to St Paul’s Cathedral to v ; sit the American Memorial Chapel. He will be guest of honour at a formal Government luncheon on September 1 at Lancaster House.