746E.00/5–1354: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Ceylon
371. Embtel 368.1 White House has now approved appointment in December for Sir John to see President and luncheon by President in Sir John’s honor.
You should therefore now inform Sir John that President extending an invitation to him to be official guest in Washington of the United States Government for three days in December. This normally involves stay at Blair House, appointment with President and lunch by President (sometimes combined), dinner or luncheon by Secretary of State. Other appropriate courtesies will of course be accorded, but longer stay Washington and other travel in United States would be on Sir John’s own arrangements.
After consultation White House, Department suggests December 6 as an appropriate arrival date Washington and December 7 for appointment with President. Please confirm if this agreeable to Sir John. Press release will be made after date of visit is fixed. Release will be subject later message.
- Telegram 368 from Colombo, May 13, 1954, was a response to Department telegram 347 to Colombo, May 12, 1954, which requested that the Embassy estimate, without consulting the Ceylonese, whether October or December was more convenient for the Prime Minister to come to Washington (746E.13/5–454). The Embassy in telegram 368 responded that December appeared to be more satisfactory (746E.00/5–1354).↩