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vantageous trade is the best foundation for the development of rela-
tions between states and the establishment of confidence between them.
Let us do everything possible to broaden scientific, cultural, and
athletic ties between our two countries. One can imagine what fruit-
ful results might follow, for example, from the cooperation between
Soviet and American scientists in the matter of further harnessing the
elemental powers of nature in the interest of man.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the implementation of the above-
mentioned measures, which would in no way harm either the security
or the other interests of any state, would be of enormous significance
to the promotion of a wholesome atmosphere in the entire international
situation and to the creation of a climate of trust between states, with-
out which one cannot even speak of insuring a lasting peace among
peoples.
The creation of the necessary trust in relations between states would
then make possible to proceed with the implementation of such radi-
cal measures as a substantial reduction in armed forces and arma-
ments, the complete prohibition of nuclear weapons, the cessation of
their production and the destruction of stockpiles, the withdrawal of
foreign armed forces from the territories of all states, including the
member states of NATO and of the Warsaw Pact,. and replacement
of the existing military groupings of states with a collective security
system.
The critical period in the development of international relations
in which we are now living makes it necessary, perhaps as never be-
fore, to adopt realistic decisions that would be in accord with the vital
interests and the will of peoples. The experience of the past tells us
how much can be done for the benefit of peoples by statesmen who cor-
rectly understand the demands of the historic moment and act in ac-
cordance with those demands.
Knowing you, Mr. President, as a man of great breadth of vision
and peace-loving convictions, I hope that you will correctly under-
stand this message and, conscious of the responsibility which rests with
the leaders of the United States of America and the Soviet Union in
the present situation, will manifest a readiness to combine the efforts
of our two countries for the noble purpose of turning the course of
events in the direction of a durable peace and friendly cooperation
among nations.
Attaching great importance to personal contacts between states-
men, which facilitate finding a common point of view on important
international problems, we, for our part, would be prepared to come
to an agreement on a personal meeting of state leaders to discuss both
the problems mentioned in this letter and other problems. The par-
ticipants in the meeting could agree upon these other subjects that
might need to be discussed.
Statement by President Eisenhower, on German Reunification and
Berlin, December 16, 19571
[Extract]
While we can hope for progress and while our London first-step
disarmament proposals were offered without political conditions, we
1 Ibid., January 6, 1958,, pp. 6-7. The statement was made at the first plenary
session of
the NATO Heads of Government Meeting.