Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1955, Volume XIV

206. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel¹

Washington,August 20, 1955—7:49 p.m.

123. For Ambassador from Secretary. Re Russell letr on Alpha of July 22.²

After consideration of possible alternatives as to timing I plan to make on August 26 a public statement concerning the Arab-Israel issues and US willingness help in working toward a settlement. Statement will be along general lines of draft text already sent you. Final text, reflecting recommendations from field, will be telegraphed to you separately. You should plan call upon PriMin Wed Aug 24 and advise him I expect make a statement on some of issues pending between Israel and Arab states and on possibility of steps toward stability and econ progress in that area. Do not make appointment until receipt subsequent instruction that effect.³ You should inform him this statement embodies considered views this Govt reached after intensive study. We hope govt to which you are accredited, which has so much to gain from a solution of problems hampering progress and impeding national development of Near Eastern states, will give my statement closest study and constructive consideration. You should not, of course, give any indication of content of proposed statement other than above.

FYI: Dept has worked closely with Brit FonOff in working out principles and proposals contained in my statement and you should coordinate closely with your Brit colleague. Dept is informing French FonOff of proposed statement only in most general terms at this time⁴ but hopes for French endorsement of our proposals. In your discretion you may reveal substance your conversations with govt to your French colleague but only in most general terms.

You will shortly receive a further instruction re points you should make in event govt raises certain questions with you fol my statement.

It is my hope that the statement will provide an opportunity for all of us to engage in a renewed effort to reduce tension and to assist in broad progress in the area.⁵

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2055. Top Secret; Alpha; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Russell; approved by the Secretary and by Russell, who signed for Dulles. Repeated to London.
2. Document 169.
3. Telegram 124 to Tel Aviv, August 21, instructed Lawson to do so. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2155)
4. Telegram 672 to Paris, August 20, instructed the Ambassador to inform Pinay in general terms that Dulles planned to make a statement on the Arab-Israel problem, to express the hope that the French would support his suggestions, and to impress on him the importance of secrecy. (Ibid., 684A.86/8–1055) Chargé Theodore C. Achilles reported in telegram 799 from Paris, August 22, that, in Pinay’s absence, he had spoken to Margérie on August 22 to carry out these instructions. (Ibid., 684A.86/ 8–2255)
5. The Department transmitted similar instructions on August 20 in telegram 101 to Damascus, in telegram 257 to Beirut, in telegram 88 to Jidda, and in telegram 57 to Tripoli. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2055)