189. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State1
TELEPHONE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT
The Secretary said he had just finished a couple of hours with the British and French going over papers which relate to possible Security Council action. The particular matter they are concerned about is say supposing that an amendment is introduced which calls upon the parties to refrain from the use of force, would we stand with them to oppose the amendment in question. The Secretary had told them he did not think we could agree now to oppose a proposition that the parties should refrain from the use of force, which is the language of the Charter. They said that would restrict freedom of action. The Secretary said he did not know if they had that. The Secretary said in the matter if we would abstain if such an amendment was proposed, he was inclined not to give them assurances on either one.
The President said he had been trying a draft on the latest note from Eden on the Suez and indicated he had said that he was convinced that not only would they consolidate Arab force if they resorted to force before they exhausted every possibility and got a favorable word from the UN, if they insisted on using force that would weaken and probably destroy the UN. The Secretary said he did not believe we should connive with them on that proposition. The President said it was important “not to make any mistakes in a hurry”. The British and French were trying to make a mistake from which there was no recall. The President stressed how important it was to go slowly. If we are right that that fellow can’t run the Canal, there is bound to be a breakdown in the Canal or he (Nasser) will commit aggression. The Secretary agreed about going slowly and [Page 431] said if we could work it out they would have to unmount and the President said, “Let them unmount”. The Secretary said he believed we had plenty of user rights. If we organize to carry these out and if the Egyptians obstruct us then we have a case. The President said he was sorry he hadn’t finished the draft to Eden.2 The Secretary said it was not necessary to get it out today. (Sec. saw President on Saturday 6:30 p.m. and carried with him Sec’s revised version of draft which President sent the Sec. on Saturday morning.)