432. Message From Prime Minister Mollet to President Eisenhower1
The events unfolding in the Near East have not ceased seriously to concern the French Government, which deliberated on them again this morning. As a result of these discussions and conversations that I have just had with the Prime Minister in London, I wish to inform you of the conclusions which we have reached.
I understand, of course, the reasons that led the Government of the United States to bring before the Security Council the action just undertaken by Israel; in spite of certain appearances, it seems difficult, in my opinion, to consider it an act of aggression. From its beginnings, the State of Israel has constantly been the object of repeated provocations on the part of certain Arab States which have for some time been acting at the instigation of Egypt. Israel may therefore rightly consider herself in a state of self-defense.
These considerations led the French Government to judge it difficult at the present time to condemn Israel’s action. The magnitude of its repercussions has, however, caused it to think that, on a temporary basis, immediate measures must be taken; it is important above all to put an end to the fighting.
It seems that the fighting is not yet on a large scale and that it is possible to arrest its course by acting without further delay. In agreement with the British Government we have decided to address to the Israeli Government and to the Egyptian Government a solemn appeal for them to end hostilities and for them both to withdraw their troops from the Suez Canal Zone. In order to guarantee that the cease-fire shall be effective, we are also asking to assume temporarily control of the key positions of the Canal. This demand is but too well justified by a long experience with failures to honor international agreements and with provocations by Arab States in the Near East. To mention only what touches us directly, I will point out that again yesterday the Embassy of France in Amman was stoned, while the French Consulate General in Jerusalem and French cultural institutions in Aleppo were set afire.
[Page 870]I entertain the firm hope that the measures jointly decided on by the French and British Governments will receive your approval and that you will support them with your high authority.2
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. The source text is an official translation of the letter which Alphand handed to Dulles during their conversation which began at 3:28 p.m.; see supra. A covering note from Howe to Whitman, dated November 1, attached to the source text, indicates that the original of the letter from Mollet and an informal translation of it was transmitted to the White House on October 31.↩
- Printed from an unsigned copy.↩