Office of the Historian

341. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State1

New York, May 9, 1956—7 p.m.

940. For Secretary from Lodge. Re Palestine. After talking to Secretary this afternoon2 I met with Dixon (UK) and Alphand (France) to discuss future action on Palestine. Following evolved from our conversation and was agreed to on personal basis by UK and France ad referendum: We must do something to show that SC and UN are still actively concerned with problem and that present momentum does not drop. While entertaining no illusions that various problems such as El Auja, Suez Canal, water, and refugees can be solved immediate future, it must be made clear to press and public opinion we are following up SYG’s initial efforts. As soon as possible following release of SYG’s report,3 now understood scheduled for Thursday to govts and Friday to press,4 there should be SC meeting which would take note report, commend SYG, request parties concerned implement promptly agreements reached with him, [Page 628] request SYG undertake further consultations with parties on other outstanding problems under armistice agreements, e.g., he could follow up on Suez blockade (Alphand and Dixon felt his further undertaking would have to be under armistice agreements in general terms).

It was felt it would be difficult for Soviets interfere or oppose resolution along these lines. If they did it would only put them in position of turning their backs on what they said at London.5

In discussion of SYG’s reference to diplomatic action by 3 powers and Soviets (mytel 931, May 76) it was agreed by Dixon and Alphand we should not engage in any coordinated action with Soviets or consultation on this question with Soviets outside framework public SC action. Thus, we would follow same procedure with respect this resolution as was followed successfully in case of last resolution on Palestine question.7

Lodge
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/5–956. Secret; Priority. Received at 8:03 p.m.↩
  2. Lodge and Dulles discussed Lodge’s May 7 conversation with Hammarskjöld (see Document 338). The two agreed that the United States should launch some additional initiative to prevent dissipation of the diplomatic momentum Hammarskjold’s mission had begun. (Memorandum of telephone conversation, May 9; Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations)↩
  3. See Document 348.↩
  4. May 10 and 11.↩
  5. Reference is to Khrushchev’s and Bulganin’s State visit to the United Kingdom April 18–27.↩
  6. Document 338.↩
  7. Dulles and Lodge discussed this again on the telephone on May 14. (Memorandum of telephone conversation, May 14; Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations)↩