227. Memorandum of a Conversation, Secretary Dulles’ Residence, Washington, March 28, 1956, 8 p.m.1
PARTICIPANTS
- The Secretary
- Mr. Pearson, Canadian Minister for External Affairs
- Ambassador Heeney
- Mr. Merchant
During the course of a conversation after dinner this evening at the Secretary’s home, Mr. Pearson mentioned that the Israelis seemed interested in buying F–86’s which Canada was manufacturing under license. The manufacturer was obviously anxious to get this business in order to keep its production line going. He inquired as to the Secretary’s general reaction. The Secretary said that in his talk with Ambassador Eban earlier in the day2 he had told Eban that he believed the U.S. would imperil what remaining influence it had with the Arab States if it were to become an important supplier of arms to Israel. We had not been significant suppliers to Israel in past years. In fact, the amounts shipped to them had been relatively trivial. Israel had habitually looked to other sources. He said that he had indicated to Eban that he would see no objection to the Israelis shopping around various other countries to see what they might be able to acquire in the way of armaments. Concurrently, the Secretary said we were considering whether it might not be possible to find some clearly defensive item which we could release to the Israelis. Anti-submarine equipment and mines were some things they wanted and which would meet these requirements but he was not sure of the supply situation. The Secretary said, and Mr. Pearson agreed, that it was important that Israel should not be forced into an attitude of desperation by feeling all doors were closed to it and that it had been abandoned without a possibility of acquiring arms for its own self defense.
Mr. Pearson expressed extreme interest in the Secretary’s attitude but gave no clear indication of what the Canadian decision might be. He mentioned that the matter of Israel had domestic political aspects in Canada as well as the U.S.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/3–2856. Secret. Drafted by Merchant. The time of the meeting is from Dulles’ Appointment Book. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers)↩
- See Document 221.↩