Office of the Historian

468. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France1

Washington,December 23, 1955—7:18 p.m.

2389. Paris tels 2929, 2867.2 In Paris three Ministers agreed plane deliveries to Israel should be suspended pending consideration by Ambassadorial Committee and that IG would be informed cessation deliveries made in light of Syrian incident (Secto 83).

Ambassadorial Committee discussed December 21.4 Four members agreed that decision re deliveries of planes and other equipment to Israel should be suspended pending SC consideration current question Israeli action Syria. Thereafter Ambassadorial Committee would discuss again. American representative noted Israelis had [Page 885] already been informed their request for US equipment had been suspended for time being.

In light foregoing Department does not anticipate agreement in near future by Ambassadorial Committee to supply aircraft for Israel, especially latest type jets such as Mystere 4. For political reasons Department does not believe it desirable divert US-financed planes to Israel at this time. Discussions and decisions Ambassadorial Committee are to be kept strictly confidential.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/12–2155. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins and approved by Allen, who signed for Dulles. Also sent to London and Rome.↩

  2. Ambassador Dillon reported in telegram 2867, December 16, that Margerie the previous day had handed him an aide-mémoire stating that the French Government had decided to meet an Israeli request for 12 Mystere IV–A planes as soon as possible “provided Washington interallied agency agrees.” The French aide-mémoire further pointed out that “Delivery can only be made if 12 planes taken from production series filling offshore order. French Government would like as quickly as possible US agreement to this.” (Ibid., 484A.518/12–1655)

    Achilles in telegram 2929, December 21, reported from Paris that the French were pressing for a prompt reply and requested guidance. (Ibid., 784A.56/12–2155)

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  3. Document 463.↩
  4. The memorandum of this conversation is not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 480.008/12–2155)↩