146. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1

1439. For Henderson. The Suez Committee seems to have made a good start with your valuable assistance. I am gratified that Menzies’ attitude as reported your 11142 remains consistent with views which I expressed in putting forth to Suez Conference my proposals. I made clear my belief that the proposals should not take the form of an ultimatum to Nasser, and that there should be an element of flexibility in working out details, although the arrangements agreed upon should be in accordance with the basic principles which the 18 nations considered essential to give assurance that the Canal will be operated on an efficient and non-political basis.

Following my talk with the President this morning he issued statement which is being cabled you separately. The purpose was to give maximum support to your Committee. On the other hand it was not designed to subtract in any way the actual element of flexibility which we believe should be present in the negotiations as more fully expounded in my press conference of yesterday.3

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/8–2856. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution—Suez. Drafted by Rountree; cleared, approved, and signed by Dulles.
  2. Document 139.
  3. The transcript of Dulles’ press conference on August 28 is printed in Department of State Bulletin, September 10, 1956, pp. 406–411; excerpts pertaining to the Suez Canal situation are in The Suez Canal Problem, July 26–September 22, 1956, pp. 295–301.