The Geneva Summit was first held on July 18th, 1955 in Geneva, Switzerland. This was a meeting of "The Big Four": President Eisenhower of the U.S.A., Prime Minister Eden of Great Britain, Premiere Nikolai A. Bulganin of the Soviet Union, and Premiere Edgar Faure of France. ^[1] They were accompanied by the foreign ministers of the four powers (who were also members of the Council of Foreign Ministers): Dulles, Macmillan, Molotov and Pinay. Also in attendance was Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union. Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German:   //, Italian: Ginevra //, Romansh: Genevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ... Dwight David Ike Eisenhower (October 14, 1890–March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General of the Army. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... For the eponymous hat, see Anthony Eden hat. ... Nikolai Alexandrovich Bulganin (Russian: , Nikolaj Aleksandrovič Bulganin; June 11 [O.S. May 30] 1895 – February 24, 1975) was a prominent Soviet politician, who served as Minister of Defense (1953-55) and Prime Minister (1955-58). ... Edgar Faure, French statesman Edgar Faure (August 18, 1908 - March 30, 1988) was a French statesman. ... Council of Foreign Ministers was an organization agreed upon at the Potsdam Conference in 1945 and announced in the Potsdam Agreement. ... John Foster Dulles (February 25, 1888 – May 24, 1959) served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. ... Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894 – 29 December 1986), was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... For other uses, see Molotov (disambiguation). ... Antoine Pinay, French prime minister Antoine Pinay (December 30, 1891 - December 13, 1994) served as Prime Minister of France from 1952 - 1953 (technically, president of the Council). One of Frances most spirited leaders after World War II, Pinay is today remembered as the longest lived Prime Minister. ... Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: , Nikita Sergeevič Chruščiov; IPA: , in English, , or , occasionally ); surname more accurately romanized as Khrushchyov[1]; April 17 [O.S. April 5] 1894[2]–September 11, 1971) was the chief director of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. ...

The Mission

The stated mission of the 1955 summit was to reduce international tensions. The Geneva Summit was seen as an important building block to better friendships and more open communication between the leaders of The Big Four.^[2] The creation of an international community was introduced as a way to help relieve global tensions and mistrust. This community would form the critical foundation of a unified world in which minimal barriers to trade and common interests would serve to engender diplomacy.^[3] Alternate meaning: The Big Four (novel) The Big Four were the chief entrepreneurs in the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, the western portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States. ... It has been suggested that Commerce be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about negotiations. ...

Topics such as East-West trade agreements, tariffs, the arms race, international security and disarmament policy were all addressed to some extent.^[4] The most significant proposal made by President Eisenhower was his ‘Open Skies’ plan, which called for an international aerial monitoring system.^[5] The intent of this policy was to prevent nations from stockpiling dangerous weapons, and eventually lead to the disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction. Surprisingly, one goal that American political advisors had for the conference was to not make any specific promises or guarantees to the Soviets. In the past, Soviet leaders have misinterpreted American suggestions as whole-hearted promises later on, which could serve to bring more division instead of unity. Since this meeting was the first of its kind, the seeds of unification needed to be planted, nothing else.^[6] A tariff is a tax placed on imported and/or exported goods, sometimes called a customs duty. ... The term arms race in its original usage describes a competition between two or more parties for military supremacy. ... For other uses, see Security (disambiguation). ... Disarmament means the act of reducing or depriving arms i. ... A weapon is a tool used to kill or incapacitate a person or animal, or destroy a military target. ... Disarmament means the act of reducing or depriving arms i. ... For the Xzibit album, see Weapons of Mass Destruction (album). ... Soviet redirects here. ...

The issue of East-West trade agreements was one that needed to be discussed very delicately.^[7] Many historians could tell you that previous East-West trade agreement talks had been anything but diplomatic. In the past, trade agreements had always been an occasion for discourse and heated arguments. Neither Great Britain nor the United States were willing to share control of their trading spheres unless there were obvious strategic advantages of doing so. Nations were at a standstill because no one was willing to compromise for the good of the worldwide community. The problem with peace talks is that although each nation knows the importance and benefits of peace, there is never enough mutual trust to ensure the success of such talks.^[8] The talks in Geneva helped break the ice and introduce nations to the undeniable benefits of free trade. Also, simply by meeting and talking, the leaders were able to develop relationships and have an optimistic outlook on a peaceful and cooperative future. A peace dove, widely known as a symbol for peace, featuring an olive branch in the doves beak. ... Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German:   //, Italian: Ginevra //, Romansh: Genevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ...

The Cold War and Geneva

The Cold War had a major impact on the topics debated during the Geneva Summit. International tensions were at its peak during the Cold War, as tensions were on the rise, the Cold War leaders thought it would be a good idea to unite under a common cause for peace in Geneva.^[9] The Cold War (1947-1991) was the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after World War II between groups of nations practicing different ideologies and political systems. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German:   //, Italian: Ginevra //, Romansh: Genevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ...

The world leaders discussed issues on security, armaments, German unification, and stronger east west relationships. Khrushchev was willing to allow a united Germany providing it was neutral, but West German entrance into NATO in May made the situation increasingly complicated. Krushchev wanted the removal of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact, to be replaced by a new system of collective security.^{[citation needed]} This conference marked an era of renewed optimism in cold war relationships, however this was disrupted later by the Suez Crisis. ^{[citation needed]} The unification of Germany can refer to: the 1871 formation of the German Empire under Otto von Bismarck. ... Combatants Israel United Kingdom France Egypt Commanders Moshe Dayan Charles Keightley Pierre Barjot Gamal Abdel Nasser Abdel Hakim Amer Strength 175,000 Israeli 45,000 British 34,000 French 70,000 Casualties 197 Israeli KIA 56 British KIA 91 British WIA 10 French KIA 43 French WIA 650 KIA[1...

1985: Reagan and Gorbachev

On November 21, 1985, U.S. president Ronald Reagan and Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev met for the first time, in Geneva, to hold talks on international diplomatic relations and the arms race. Gorbachev later said, regarding the summit, “We viewed the Geneva meeting realistically, without grand expectations, yet we hoped to lay the foundations for a serious dialogue in the future.”^[10] Similar to former president Eisenhower in 1955, Reagan believed that a personal relationship among leaders was the necessary first step to breaking down the barriers of tension that existed between the two countries. Reagan’s goal was to convince Gorbachev that America desired peace above all else.^[11] is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Reagan redirects here. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; (born 2 March 1931) is a Russian politician. ... The term arms race in its original usage describes a competition between two or more parties for military supremacy. ... Dwight David Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American General and politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961). ...

Conclusion

The purpose of both the 1955 and the 1985 Geneva Summit was to bring together the worlds most powerful political leaders to begin discussions on peace. Although those discussions led down many different roads (arms negotiations, trade barriers, diplomacy, nuclear warfare, etc), all talks were influenced by the common goal for increased global security.^[12] This page is related to transport; you may be looking for the 2002 Bollywood movie Road. ... This article is about nuclear war as a form of actual warfare, including history. ... International security consists of the measures taken by nations and international bodies, such as the United Nations, to ensure mutual survival and safety. ...

References

• Bischof, Gunter. Cold War Respite: The Geneva Summit of 1955, (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2000)
• Morgenthau, Hans J. Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1985)
• Reston, James. Big Four Conference Opens Today; West’s Chiefs Complete Strategy on Germany, Disarming, Security, New York Times, July 18, 1955, pg.1; ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
• Matlock, Jr., Jack F. Reagan and Gorbachev: How the Cold War Ended, (New York: Random House Inc., 2004)
• Staff. An Outline of American History: Cold War, department of Alfa-Informatica of the University of Groningen
• Staff. Geneva Summit - President Reagan to Hold Pre-summit Speech, ABC News — retrieved 24 January 2007.

The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jack Matlock was an American career diplomat who was posted in Moscow during some of the most tumultuous years of the Cold War. ... The University of Groningen, established in 1614, it is the second oldest and third largest university in the Netherlands, boasting more than 100,000 graduates since its inception. ...

Footnotes

1. ^ Reston, James. Big Four Conference Opens Today; West’s Chiefs Complete Strategy on Germany, Disarming, Security, New York Times, July 18, 1955, pg.1; ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
2. ^ Staff, ABC News
3. ^ Hans J. Morgenthau, p. 559
4. ^ Gunter Bischof, p.239.
5. ^ Gunter Bischof, 215.
6. ^ Jack F. Matlock, Jr., pp. 9,149
7. ^ Bischof, Cold War Respite, p. 239
8. ^ Bischof, Cold War Respite, p. 3
9. ^ An Outline of American History: Cold War Aims, <http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/H/1994/ch11_p2.htm> [15 February 2007].
10. ^ Matlock, Reagan and Gorbachev, p.149.
11. ^ "Geneva Summit - President Reagan to Hold Pre-summit Speech", ABC News, (retrieved 24 January 2007)
12. ^ Bischof, Cold War Respite, 3.