238. Editorial Note
On November 30, the United States Government authorized activation of the Middle East Emergency Committee (MEEC). On November 25, the President had agreed with Acting Secretary of State Hoover that they could not wait any longer to set up the MEEC and Flemming was given the responsibility. At the National Security Council meeting on November 30, Flemming reported that his committee had recommended announcing the decision to put the emergency plan into action immediately because it could be done without jeopardizing United Nations efforts to obtain a withdrawal and without offending Arab nations.
By activating the MEEC, the United States Government authorized 15 American oil companies to coordinate the efforts they had been making individually to assist in handling the oil supply problem resulting from the closing of the Suez Canal and pipeline stoppages. It also allowed immunity from application of anti-trust laws which had prohibited company coordination without government authorization. The companies were subsequently permitted to work through the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) and its subordinate committees in the implementation of these plans. On December 7, the Department of the Interior approved the first two schedules of revised shipments submitted by the MEEC under which certain Western Hemisphere and Middle East shipments usually delivered to the Western Hemisphere ports were rerouted to Europe and other areas of shortage, and other Middle East shipments were also rerouted for greater efficiency. (Circular telegram 483, December 8; Department of State, Central Files, 880.2553/12–856)