TALKS OPENED AT CHEQUERS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28987, 31 August 1959, Page 11

TALKS OPENED AT CHEQUERS

Eisenhower Ends Visit To Queen

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, August 29. President Eisenhower and the British Prime Minister, Mr Macmillan, today had “a general conversation on the world situation” at Chequers, it was officially announced in London today. Later, President Eisenhower’s press secretary, Mr James Hagerty, told his press conference that it was a discussion “of the world situation and the problems caused by Communist movements against the free world.” It also included a discussion on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr Hagerty said the general conversation of the British-Ameri-can leaders on the world situation did not include India. The Berlin situation and possible solutions were included in the discussion. There was no discussion on the possibility of disarmament, he said.

Mr Hagerty explained that It was obvious that all the subjects could not be dealt with in a block discussion. Asked whether Africa was touched on in the discussions on communism and the free world. Mr Hagerty replied: “Just in passing.” He added: “You have to realise that this was the start of conversations and the report by the Foreign Secretaries to the principals. They will continue when the four of them get together for subsequent meetings.” The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Selwyn Lloyd, made the report and was backed up by the American Secretary of State, Mr Herter.

News of the clashes on the Indian border burst like a bomb into the calm atmosphere of the President's visit, the “Sunday Dispatch” reported. The strong possibility of the President visiting New Delhi on his way home from Moscow was being discussed, the newspaper said. British Foreign Office and American State Department officials would not say whether the President planned to fly to India. Balmoral Departure President Eisenhower took his leave of the Queen at Balmoral this morning. He was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. The President was driven to Dyce airport, Aberdeen, where his Comet flew him to Benson, Oxfordshire.

The President joined the Queen,

the Duke and the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne in the castle’s drawing room after an early breakfast.

The Queen, smiling happily, was a radiant figure in a lemon coloured two-piece suit, with a triple string of pearls at her neck and a diamond brooch on her left shoulder. Both Royal children wore the kilt. The President and the Duke, both in dark grey suits, were in happy mood. With his son, Major John Eisenhower, and his personal physiciqp, Major-General Howard Snyder, the President and the Royal party moved about the lawn of the castle posing for photographers. At one stage a photographer shouted: “Mr President, can we ask for the children on each side of you?” The President smilingly obliged. The President and the Queen lingered over their final leavetaking, Mr Eisenhower grasping the Queen’s hand warmly and holding it for some moments while he murmured his thanks and good wishes.

Then with the Queen, Princess Margaret, and the Royal children waving until he passed out of sight down the drive, he left for his week-end talks on the world situation with Mr Macmillan. Golf at Chequers

The President and Mr Macmillan, practised golf on the lawns of Chequers in the evening. Others who practised with them were Mr Lloyd, and the American Ambassador to Britain, Mr John Hay Whitney. Stepping off a distance of between 300 and 350 yards, they teed off and then used irons.

Amid laughter, Mr Hagerty later told the London press conference: “They were using Dr. Snyder as a hole to aim at and were playing up to him and then playing back to the original tee.”