Office of the Historian

79. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1

Paris, February 6, 1956—7 p.m.

3509. Re Deptel 2819.2 Have discussed contents reference telegram with Maillard (Foreign Office).

Maillard stated today Foreign Office has already taken firm decision to deliver 12 Mysteres to Israel and is now awaiting US Government’s authorization to interrupt MDAP contract.

In view Deptel 2714,3 we informed Maillard that US concurrence in Washington was merely to principle of interruption of Mystere MDAP contract but French Ambassador had not informed Department that French had made firm decision. Review of our dossier reveals that Embassy has been informed by Margerie in written aide-mémoire (Embtel 28674), by Roux (Embtel 32535) and by Maillard himself (Embtel 30736) that Foreign Office wanted only US agreement in principle to interruption of MDAP contract, and that before reaching any final decision, matter would be referred to Ambassadorial Committee.

Maillard said that, as there had been misunderstanding in past, he would now inform Embassy officially of definite French decision to interrupt MDAP contract since US agreement to principle had already been obtained. Maillard, speaking for Foreign Office, further asked that State Department now take necessary action immediately to interrupt contract thus making possible for French to supply 12 Mysteres to Israel. Embassy official reminded Maillard that channel was Washington and appropriate approach would be through French Ambassador. Maillard said Foreign Office would give French Ambassador appropriate instructions but he requested Embassy also forward official Foreign Office request.

When asked if current decision Foreign Office to by-pass Ambassadorial Committee was deliberate, Maillard said contract for 12 Mysteres was signed December after Pinay-Sharett talks7 and before Ambassadorial Committee had been established. Any future contracts to ship Mysteres would, of course, be raised with Committee. When asked if delivery planes had been discussed in NEACC, [Page 147] Maillard said no approach had been made to NEACC but he admitted he was embarrassed and at a loss to explain this oversight.

Despite previous assurances from Margerie, Roux and Maillard that Mysteres shipment to Israel would be submitted to Ambassadorial Committee (see above), Maillard said original decision of Foreign Office had been reversed. Foreign Office was now committed to delivery this shipment 12 Mysteres and would proceed to fulfill contract with Israel as soon as Department gave appropriate technical instructions re interruption of MDAP contract.

Of possible interest is approach made to MDAP Embassy official on December 16 by French Minister Defense officials who stated contractual arrangements for delivering 12 Mysteres to Israel was two years standing. Original contract called for Mark II Mysteres which are now obsolete and Foreign Office therefore wished to substitute Mark IV–As.

Bendor approached Embassy today and we informed him along lines Deptel 2819, referring him to Maillard.

In view recent intimations from Bendor that planes ready to take off on receipt US final authorization, Embassy requests that any instructions re contract amendment be explicit as to point of contract interruption (i.e., at what stage of production are planes to be designated non MDAP). FYI: Air procurement official feels that any planes not accepted by his service would be considered non MDAP. Planes already on field would obviously have already been accepted by US.

Dillon
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/2–656. Secret; Priority. Received at 4:41 p.m. Repeated to Tel Aviv, London, and Rome.↩
  2. Document 74.↩
  3. Document 40.↩
  4. See vol. XIV, footnote 2, p. 884.↩
  5. See footnote 2, Document 40.↩
  6. Document 6.↩
  7. Sharett’s conversation with Pinay occurred at Geneva on October 27, 1955.↩