Office of the Historian

70. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs Special Assistant (Hedding) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Allen)1

Washington, February 2, 1956.

SUBJECT

  • Naval Demonstration in the Eastern Mediterranean
1.
As directed by the President, and in order to evidence discreet interest in the areas adjacent to Egypt and Israel, the Sixth Fleet has been ordered to conduct certain operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. These operations are to be coordinated with similar operations by U.K. naval forces, however, these two forces are not to operate as combined forces.
2.
The following operations have been ordered:
a.
Establish a patrol of two destroyers off the coast of Israel. These destroyers would remain in international waters well outside territorial waters and make their presence known by occasionally exchanging calls with passing ships.
b.
Establish a similar patrol off the coast of Egypt and in the Red Sea.
c.
Seek to obtain clearances for patrolling ships to visit ports in these patrol areas. Even though clearances might not be obtained, the object of disclosing presence in the area would be achieved.
d.
Conduct fleet exercises as practicable in the Eastern Mediterranean area.
3.
It is therefore requested that you inform our embassies in the area of the above operations in order to alert them as to the operations and to the requests for clearances for visits. As the President has requested that he be kept informed of the results of these operations, it is desired that the embassies be requested to report any reaction or information resulting from these operations.
T. J. Hedding
Rear Admiral, U.S.N.
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5411/2–256. Top Secret.↩