367. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) in New York, October 23, 1956, 5:17 p.m.1
TELEPHONE CALL FROM AMB. LODGE
L. said Dixon took him aside at lunch and said he was worried re Suez (though not for the same reasons as we). Wednesday Hammarskjold asked him to come over and said the Egyptians had an overall proposal which they would not like but etc. Then something happened and it evaporated into nothing and he thought it was problemmatical there would be a meeting on the 29th. They must have something definite. He realized you could not expect that but thought some proposal should be made to get together on. L. said get in the room and then start questioning it. A failure to meet is not advancing anything. L. thinks he personally agreed but that is not the attitude of the govt. Dixon is worried about Anglo-American relations—their opinion of us. Then L. talked with Hammarskjold2 and he said he would get in touch with them today and call L., but he has not as yet. L said H said to him he hoped the Sec. would bring his influence to bear. L. said he assumed the Sec. was and the Sec. said we have not done anything about it. The situation is such it is rather awkward for us to do it. They know how we feel. What has H done? L. said again re calling and putting them on the spot in front of the issue. The Sec. thinks H. may have to take almost public action here which maybe we could … .3 Our position is quite awkward. We have used up about all our influence in this thing so far, and our relations have become strained on this matter and the Sec. thinks the Br and Fr are inclined to stall until after election and with the feeling that probably we will be more disposed to back the use of force. Of course we will not—the Pres feels strongly against it. Lodge asked and the Sec. replied he thinks it well to press the Egyptian(?)4 when he sees him Thurs. The Sec. said it is hard to get American public opinion focused on it now. Two weeks is a long time to wait. The Sec. [said] word from Dillon is discouraging. They mentioned the latest No African incident as being bad etc.5 The Sec. said unless they back down they will have lost all of [Page 771] Africa in his opinion. L. asked what he should say to H. that we would do to back him up if he brings it to the open. The Sec. thinks we should concert it together carefully—what moves to make—it is unfortunate the election is on. The Sec. thinks it is dangerous to wait. L. said he will probably call tomorrow p.m.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.↩
- See infra.↩
- Ellipsis in the source text.↩
- The question mark appears on the source text.↩
- On October 22, French officials seized a Moroccan plane carrying leaders of the Algerian rebellion and placed them under arrest.↩