The U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, David Bruce, reported dryly to Washington that he thought he detected “a slight oscillation in one wing” of the famously unflappable prime minister. He advised Kennedy to ignore the “caterwauling” and not pay too much attention to the qualms expressed by his British allies when America’s “most vital interests” were at stake. “Only stupid giants let themselves be tied down by Lilliputians,” he cabled.
