319. Memorandum From the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Secretary of State 1
Dixon handed me (for a “quick look”) a copy of a telegram which Selwyn Lloyd sent to his Government last night giving his account of the meeting yesterday in Hammarskjold’s office between Lloyd, Pineau, Fawzi and Hammarskjold.2 What I remember of it is as follows:
[Page 677]Fawzi said that he would accept any one of three alternatives to the Convention of ‘88: to leave it as it is, to change it, or to negotiate a new Convention.
He would agree on setting aside a definite percentage of the Canal revenues for development.
He would recognize the Suez Canal Users Association but he thought that Russia and India should be members. He appeared to agree with Lloyd’s point that it was intolerable that a country like Yemen or Albania should have equal voting rights with England and France.
Fawzi appeared to favor a compromise between the international and the national viewpoints but was vague as to how the international viewpoint would be expressed. He said that he would agree to arbitral tribunal to settle complaints which might arise.
Fawzi said it was not impossible to use pilots employed by the SCUA.
He did not shut the door on using UN personnel.
He was vague on the question of paying dues to the Suez Canal Users Association.
He was also vague on the question of Israeli shipping.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 796. Secret.↩
- On October 10, Peter Ramsbotham, First Secretary of the British Delegation at the United Nations, gave Charles D. Cook, James Ludlow, and Norman Armour, Jr. of the U.S. Delegation an account of this meeting, based on Lloyd’s report to London. (Memorandum of conversation by Ludlow, October 11; ibid.) A “Memorandum for the Files” by Cook, dated October 10, contains a more detailed account of Ramsbotham’s presentation. (USUN Files, Unnumbered Files, Suez Canal) According to this memorandum, Ramsbotham reported that Fawzi, Lloyd, and Pineau met with Hammarskjöld on the morning of October 9 in the office of the President of the Security Council, for the purpose of establishing procedures for the afternoon secret session of the Security Council. Fawzi indicated that he would like to proceed into “private talks“; subsequently, at Hammarskjöld’s request, a meeting was held that afternoon in Hammarskjöld’s office. See Document 326.↩