117. Message From the Secretary of State to the President1

Dear Mr. President: It seems that our conference is drawing to a close. We should have finished today but Shepilov and Menon fought for delay and it seemed expedient to give it to them. If, however, our lines hold solid, we shall conclude tomorrow (Thursday).

This morning Spain altered its position sufficiently2 to be included with our group rather than with the Soviet-Indian group. I pointed out to Foreign Minister Artajo3 that it would be a great shock to American public opinion which had counted so much upon Spain’s stout anti-Communist position to find that at this first major international conference where Spain participated it was aligned with the Soviet Union, India, Ceylon and Indonesia. Artajo seemed to get the point, and although they always want to follow an Arab policy different from that of the French, they altered their position so that today they joined the separate meeting of 184 which concerted tactics in support of our common position.

When our common position emerged clearly after the intermission, the Soviets and the Indians seemed quite taken by surprise and at a loss. They played for time and for the reason I indicated we finally gave in.

I have been under very strong pressure to act personally in the development of this matter but have decided against it. There was a proposal before our 18–nation meeting that I alone should carry on the negotiations on behalf of them all, but I said I could not do that because of my broader responsibilities. I would have for the most part to act by a deputy. The group tentatively agreed upon is Australia, Ethiopia, Iran, Sweden and the USA.5 We could not make [Page 262] it definitive because some of the representatives want to clear with their governments.

If this business is completed tomorrow, I shall probably stay over here Friday in order to have a first meeting of the committee to lay out our plan for approach to Egypt. Then much will depend upon whether Egypt will be willing to deal with the committee which will then be speaking for 18 nations representing over 95 percent of the Suez tonnage. If Nasser refuses to let his government even deal with this committee, then there will be a serious crisis. If meetings and exchanges of views take place, then the chance of a peaceful settlement will, I think, be considerable.

Much will, I think, depend upon the propaganda from the Soviet Union and India, particularly the former. Shepilov spoke much more calmly today but Moscow radio is still of a character making it hard for the Egyptian Government to do anything but give a complete rejection.

My thoughts are much with you tonight when the second nomination is to come to you. I am deeply grateful that you have the sense of duty not only to your country but also to the world which leads you to accept this great but essential responsibility.

Faithfully yours,

Foster6
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2256. Secret. Transmitted to the Department of State in Dulte 22 from London, August 22, 9 p.m., which is the source text, with the instruction “Eyes only Acting Secretary for President from Secretary”. The telegram was received at 8:26 p.m. A copy is in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles–Herter Series.
  2. See the editorial note, supra.
  3. The schedules and chronologies prepared by the U.S. Delegation contain no reference to a Dulles–Artajo conversation on either August 21 or 22, but see the editorial note, supra.
  4. The schedule and chronology, prepared by the U.S. Delegation for August 22, contains no reference to an 18-power meeting for that day. No memorandum of that meeting has been found in Department of State files.
  5. During the seventh plenary session, New Zealand Foreign Minister MacDonald submitted a proposal which envisioned that several governments would be selected from among the 18 supporters of the proposal and asked to approach the Government of Egypt to submit the Eighteen-Power Proposal, to explain its purposes and objectives, and to ascertain whether Egypt would agree to negotiate a Convention on the basis of it.
  6. Dulte 22 bears this typed signature.