273. Memorandum of Discussion at the 298th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, September 27, 1956, 2:30 p.m.1
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2. Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security
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Admiral Radford inquired whether General Cabell had anything new on the Arab-Israeli situation. General Cabell replied that tension had remained very high in the area since the recent large scale Israeli reprisal against Jordan. Jordan had taken refuge in diplomatic rather than military reaction to this Israeli attack and accordingly General Cabell believed that Jordan did not at this time wish to expand the incident into war with Israel. Furthermore, Nasser had indicated to the Jordan authorities his view that it was not advisable for Jordan to become embroiled at this time with Israel. General Cabell expressed the opinion that as long as Egypt remained so deeply involved in the Suez crisis, there was little likelihood that the Arab states would resort to war against Israel.
Secretary Dulles said that he would like to comment on General Cabell’s estimate. He believed that we should clearly recognize the fact that the Suez Canal crisis has resulted in upsetting the balance of forces which had kept a precarious peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors. The deterrents to Israeli military action have in several instances already disappeared. There was growing evidence of a more belligerent Israeli mood. Accordingly, it would be extremely hazardous to speculate that Israel will continue to show restraint and will not, for example, try to take advantage of the situation to seize the Western Bank of the River Jordan.
The President commented that while Secretary Dulles was probably right, it seemed to him that if Nasser really wanted to unite the Arab states, it might seem to him a good move to try to provoke Israel. Secretary Dulles replied that he did not think Nasser was ready to run this risk at the present time.
Admiral Radford emphasized that the Joint Chiefs of Staff were very much concerned because of the temptation offered to Israel by the concentration of the armies of Jordan in a small area of Western Jordan. This concentration could enable the Israelis to wipe out or to [Page 595] capture virtually the entire Jordan army. Admiral Radford added that the last Israeli reprisal was far from being a minor military action. Several thousand Israeli troops had been involved.
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- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on September 28. The time of the meeting is from the record of the President’s Daily Appointments. (Ibid.)↩