Office of the Historian

262. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, April 9, 1956, 6:36 p.m.1

Washington, April 9, 1956, 6:36 p.m.

TELEPHONE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT

The Sec. said he thought it might be useful to send in the Pres’s name if he approved a message to Nasser and Ben Gurion in which the Pres. would refer to his public statement and say he wishes to add a personal word to the effect that he realizes that this is a period of very great strain and tension and where there will be provocation but he hopes neither will indulge in retaliation of a magnitude which will precipitate general hostilities. The Pres. said all right to so do, and suggested aggressive be added at one point. And that he sends the message in the friendliest of spirits. The Sec. told him of his message from Byroade.2 The Pres. said to get in a word re responsibility—something about irresponsible groups might cause trouble. The Sec. said that for the message to BG but not N.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.↩
  2. Presumably reference is to telegram 2020, Document 260, or telegram 2021, supra.↩