Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

684A.85/8–2354: Telegram

No. 869
The Chargé in Israel (Russell) to the Department of State¹

secret

Tel Aviv, August 23, 1954—5 p.m.

192. Eytan phoned me this morning from Jerusalem and said he had talked with Dayan (Embtel 173).² Dayan had stated he is agreeable to have responsible officer on each side (Israel and Egypt) be in touch with opposite number to deal with trouble promptly when it arises; he would want to be sure in advance, however, that Egypt is agreeable. Eytan then said: “Not quite sure where we go from there.”

I said I thought matter was sufficiently important and had sufficient number of considerations that needed to be taken into account to warrant personal meeting of himself, Dayan and myself. He said he would consult Dayan and let me know.

Embassy comment: It was my impression from telephone conversation that Israeli Government does not wish to retreat from Dayan’s statement in Washington but not particularly interested in following up.

Russell

1. Repeated to Cairo and Jerusalem.
2. See footnote 3, Document 864.