Office of the Historian

317. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) in New York, May 1, 19561

New York, May 1, 1956

Ambassador Lodge telephoned this morning to pass on the following message:

“Secretary Dag Hammarskjold is putting out a release today2 (6:00 a.m. New York time) stating that in the course of the current negotiations between the parties he has submitted certain proposals to strengthen the observer organization so that a cease-fire agreement can be enforced. He announces this morning that agreement has now been reached, to be submitted for adoption at the next [Page 592] Armistice Commission meeting, which will provide for a number of fixed observation posts and mobile observation posts and an increase in the number of observers.”

Ambassador Lodge suggests that Mr. Dulles might wish to say a word of welcome for this favorable development.3 It is also being put out at the UN this morning so that if he does say something he should do it right away.

  1. Source: Department of State, S/S–NEA Files: Lot 61 D 417, Omega #3. Prepared in the Office of the Secretary.↩
  2. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. An official response to the communiqué was read at the Department’s daily news briefing on May 1. (Department of State, S/S–NEA Files: Lot 61 D 417, Omega #3)↩