259. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Macmillan, March 5, 1957, 11:55 a.m.1
The President called Prime Minister Macmillan.
The President asked the Prime Minister if he would be able to postpone the reduction in NATO forces until after the meeting scheduled March 20–24 in Bermuda. The Prime Minister replied that the reduction seemed to be going through in orderly processes and going pretty well. He said it was not a big reduction (though it is from 80,000 to 50,000) and gave the impression that NATO (General Norstad) and EUCOM had approved. We have agreed, Macmillan said, to stretch out the withdrawal for quite a long time, and he thinks the final stage does not come until the first month of 1959.
The Prime Minister said that a withdrawal now would give him many problems.
The President said that announcement here would give him problems because the US participation in NATO is based on the so-called Fair Share formula, and there are people in this country—there is always a section here—that is totally against such participation, and always want to cut down.
Macmillan said he would not like to hold it up, would give the impression in Great Britain of a change of front which would be dangerous. He said it was necessary because they were not solvent, said George Humphrey had approved.
[Page 696]In view of Macmillan’s feeling the President asked him at least not to try to speed the matter up, and if there was any evidence that it was going to be bitterly opposed, to hold it up until after Bermuda. Macmillan agreed.
There was some talk about golf and whether the President would bring his clubs and would be able to play.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries. Presumably prepared by Ann C. Whitman.↩