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

470. Memorandum From the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant (Russell) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington,December 28, 1955.

SUBJECT

• Robert Anderson’s Trip to Middle East

The following are my suggestions with respect to some of the points raised at the meeting yesterday² in connection with Bob Anderson’s Israel-Arab negotiations:

1. Informing the British—I suggest that next Tuesday afternoon (January 3) after you have definite word from Bob Anderson that he will be able to leave in a week or so for the Middle East, you call Roger Makins and tell him that conversations that we have been having with both the Israelis and the Egyptians through various channels here and in the area, including your own talks with Sharett, lead you to believe that it would be worthwhile to have someone of stature hold some conversations with Nasser and Ben Gurion. You might say that we are doing everything we can to maintain it as a covert operation but that we will, of course, inform them from time to time how the talks are progressing and discuss with them any questions of area policy that arise. (In view of the British desire to direct the course of events in the Middle East and the lengths to which this has recently driven them, … I would be inclined not to go further with them at this time.)³

2. Staff Assistance—Bob Anderson said he had raised with you the possibility of my accompanying him on the trip. In view of my involvement in the Shuckburgh visit here the week of January 9th and in the preparation of position papers for Eden’s visit, I would suggest that I plan to spend the week of January 9th here in the Shuckburgh conversations, fly to the Middle East the following week to give Bob Anderson your latest thinking as a result of those talks and spend a week there, returning in time for the final preparation of papers on the Middle East for Eden’s visit.

Anderson will, in any event, need a small staff of experts. As suggestions:William Burdett (NEA) has worked on all aspects of the Alpha problems and is thoroughly knowledgeable on the Palestine question; Oliver Troxel (NEA) knows the economic aspects of the refugee question and would be helpful on the compensation problem: . . . . It would not be necessary for all the experts to be there all the time. They could be ready here to leave when Anderson found their services would be helpful.⁴

1. Source: Department of State,S/S–NEA Files: Lot 61 D 417, Alpha Volume 16. Top Secret; Alpha. According to a notation on the source text,Robert Anderson was furnished a copy of this memorandum.
2. According to Secretary Dulles’ Appointment Book, he met on December 27 at 11:32 a.m. with Anderson,Allen, and Russell, and at 5:20 p.m. with Anderson and Russell. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) No record of these meetings have been found in Department of State files.
3. According to a notation on the source text, which Russell initialed,Russell, at the Secretary’s request, informed Ronald Bailey of the British Embassy on January 3, 1956, of the contents of this paragraph.
4. Dulles initialed his approval of the following two recommendations: “1. Will inform British” and “2. Approve staff plans subject to Anderson’s approval”.