383. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) in New York, October 26, 1956, 6:31 p.m.1
TELEPHONE CALL TO AMB. LODGE
The Sec. told re the Br. reaction to take the Hungary matter to the GA,2 and he told of the message he is sending out tonight.3 The Sec. said they could talk informally in the SC with the Russians. The Sec. told of his sense of foreboding—Br., Fr. and Israel etc. It looks bad all along the line. We don’t know what the Br and Fr agreed to in their last talks and the Sec. thinks they may be going in to fight. The Sec. referred to Pineau’s public statement they were discussing with us and the Br re bringing the matter to the SC.4 L. said the Frenchman there5 is outspoken that we should do something. L. mentioned the Latin American lunch he went to today and it was full of it. L. thinks we will lose a good deal if we do nothing. L. agreed we should do it in a constructive way. The Sec. said there will be a meeting here at 9:306 and then he will see the Pres. at 11. He leaves at 12. He thinks we will reach some decision at 9:30 and will then talk with the Pres. and let L. know right away. L. said Hammarskjold asked him and the Br. and Fr. to meet at 10 re [Page 790] Palestine—complaint of Jordan etc. The Sec. told L. to tell Hammarskjold in front of the others of our concern of this mobilization of Israel that is taking place. L. said he thought the Pres’s statement7 was good and with the reference to the UN Charter that is another reason to do something. They agreed re not waiting for the GA. The Sec. said he is sending a follow-up telegram tonight8 and should have the score tomorrow a.m. The Sec. said if he couldn’t call L., somebody would tomorrow. Can L. move on Sunday. L. said yes, and the Sec. indicated they might want him to then.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.↩
- On October 23, anti-Soviet demonstrations in Budapest erupted in violence and caused the Hungarian Government to invite the Soviet Union to send troops into Hungary to restore order. The entry of Soviet forces on October 24, however, only escalated the violence. Hungarian troops joined the rioters, and fighting in the streets of Budapest turned into a general rebellion in areas outside the capital. On October 25, in telegram 2981 to London, approved by Dulles, the Department of State directed the Embassy to consult immediately with the British Foreign Office concerning the U.S. desire to seek Security Council action regarding the situation in Hungary. In telegram 2290 from London, October 26, the Embassy reported the Foreign Office’s “preliminary view,” subject to confirmation of the highest level, that the Hungary item should be inscribed immediately on the U.N. General Assembly, not Security Council, agenda and that debate could be deferred until the General Assembly convened. Documentation concerning the Hungarian crisis is scheduled for publication in volume XXV.↩
- Later that evening, Dulles directed Aldrich to advise Lloyd personally of Dulles’ concern and desire to focus immediate U.N. attention on the Hungarian situation. (Telegram 3008 to London, October 26, is scheduled for publication ibid.)↩
- On October 25, Lucet discussed with Walmsley France’s intention of filing a complaint that day with the President of the Security Council entitled “Military assistance by the Egyptian government to the rebels in Algeria”. (Department of State, Central Files, 330/10–2656)↩
- Presumably Cornut-Gentille.↩
- According to Dulles’ Appointment Book, the 9:30 meeting on October 27 dealt with Hungary. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) No account of the conversation has been found.↩
- Reference is to Eisenhower’s statement of October 25 concerning the situation in Hungary. For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1956, pp. 270–271.↩
- Presumably telegram 3009 to London, infra.↩