Office of the Historian

303. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, September 23, 1955, 6 p.m.1

Washington, September 23, 1955, 6 p.m.

The Sec. said we had a little rough time in NY with Molotov. The Sec. said he talked about the Egyptian situation, and it seems to be authentic that they are giving a massive lot of arms to the Egyptians theoretically to be paid for by cotton—it is one hundred million dollars worth. The Sec. reported his conversation with Molotov in NY about it.2 The British and French are alarmed. The Sec. thinks the Israelis will want to attack first because today they can lick them easily. We could counter it with a collective security arrangement in advance of any agreement with the Arabs but that would throw the Arabs in the hands of the Soviets. The Sec. was wondering as to whether it would justify a personal appeal to Bulganin. The Sec. hasn’t a final recommendation to make about it— just suggesting it now. The British want a joint representation to Nasser but the Sec. doesn’t think that is the point to attack it. He feels the Army will overthrow him (Nasser that is) if he refuses to take it. The Sec. doesn’t think he is happy about it but he is held in power by the Army. The Sec. thinks Moscow is the place to stop it. [Page 510] The Sec. said he thought possibly next week the 3 when they meet with Molotov might jointly raise the issue there.3 The Sec.’s relation with Molotov is not so good and the Sec. explained what happened today.Molotov says the aerial plan is a cover-up for spying etc. The Pres. said he thought what the Sec. said re disarmament was good. The Sec. thinks Molotov represents the old school. He doesn’t think that for us to talk to him about this would do any good. It appeals to his old-fashioned idea of making trouble. The Pres. said he was thinking about an answer and got a briefing this a.m. and heard about the Egyptian thing—he has been churning it around and it seems to him a temporary letter to the effect he is grateful for the detail in which he has given him his views.4 It will take study and he will give him comments. Meantime he wants to assure him what has been said is constructive(?)—but now we learn and Molotov confirms they are considering giving arms to a country in an area where it will cause trouble. This would not then be a warning but would be in context. The Sec. mentioned drafting something—the Pres. will call at 10:30,—Sat., Sept. 24.

The Pres. said he talked with Hoover re recognition of Argentina and thinks it is fine.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers,White House. Telephone conversations. Transcribed by Bernau. According to Secretary Dulles’ Appointment Book,Dulles had returned to Washington from New York earlier that afternoon. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers)↩
  2. See Document 286.↩
  3. Dulles,Macmillan, and Pinay were to meet the following week in New York with Molotov to concert preparations for the impending Geneva Meeting of Foreign Ministers.↩
  4. Reference is to Marshal Bulganin’s disarmament message of September 19 to President Eisenhower, which Soviet Chargé Striganov delivered to Hoover on September 20. (Tedul 4 to USUN, September 20; Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204,Eisenhower/Bulganin Correspondence, 1955–1958)↩