188. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/9–756. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins. The time of the meeting is from Dulles’ Appointment Book. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) Tabs A–G are attached to the source text. Tabs A–E, printed below, are a series of papers containing the U.S. response to the messages delivered by Lloyd, Document 184. In composing their response, State Department officials treated Lloyd’s first message as an introductory statement. Hence, references to Paper I indicate Lloyd’s second message, etc. Tab F is a copy of the instructions received that day by the British Embassy from the Foreign Office; it is summarized in footnote 5 below. Tab G, identified as “Recourse to the Security Council”, is the message from Lloyd printed as Message 2 in Document 184.

189. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Asbjornson.

190. Draft Message From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Eden

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Misc. Papers—U.K. (Suez Crisis. Secret. On September 8, President Eisenhower forwarded this draft to Secretary Dulles under cover of a note which reads: “Dear Foster: Here is a draft in reply to Anthony’s letter [Document 181] that I have been preparing. The only usefulness it might have is in its attempt to destroy Anthony’s apparent fixation that delay or long drawn out negotiations might result in catastrophe for Great Britain and the West.

“I am not even sure that it is worth while sending the document, but won’t you look it over and send it back to me with any comments you may care to make? As ever, DE.”

191. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the President and Secretary of State, White House

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings With the President. Secret; Personal and Private. Drafted by Dulles.

192. Message From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Eden

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Secret. A copy of this message in Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204, Eden to Eisenhower Correspondence 1955–1956 Vol I, bears this marginal notation: “Given to Makins by Secy Sat. evening 9/8/56”. Eisenhower’s original draft of this message is Document 190. The text printed here, which was the one sent to Eden, reflects Dulles’ subsequent revisions.

193. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/9–856. Secret. Drafted by Rountree.

194. Editorial Note

195. Draft Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/9–1156. Secret. Forwarded to Dulles on September 11 under cover of a memorandum by Henderson which reads: “Attached hereto is a draft of a telegram partly prepared in Cairo and party enroute in which we summarized some of the views which we shared as we left Cairo.

“We planned to send the telegram from London, but when it was decided for me to proceed direct to Washington it seemed preferable for me to take it with me. We thought that it might make a useful addition to the reports which we submitted from Cairo.

“In preparing this report we realized of course that the unwillingness of Nasser to accept one or other plan for maintaining Canal as efficiently operated waterway open to the vessels of all nations would be merely one of various factors to be considered by the U.S. in determining what its policies should be with regard to the Canal.” This covering note is marked “Sec saw”.

196. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/9–956. Secret. Received at 12:08 p.m.