Office of the Historian

396. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 28, 1956, 4:30 p.m.1

Washington, October 28, 1956, 4:30 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Middle East Situation

PARTICIPANTS

  • Ambassador Herve Alphand, France
  • Minister J. E. Coulson, Great Britain
  • Mr. R. W. Bailey, Counselor, Great Britain
  • Mr. Murphy, G
  • Mr. Rountree, NEA
  • Mr. Beam, EUR
  • Mr. Bennett, G

Mr. Murphy showed Ambassador Alphand and Minister Coulson2 the President’s statement3 just released by the White House regarding the imminent danger of an outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East. He called attention to the references in the statement to the Tripartite responsibilities of the U.S., France and the UK.

In response to an inquiry from Ambassador Alphand, Mr. Murphy reviewed the reports of Israeli mobilization moves which have been received by this Government. He emphasized that the reports coming in from all sources point the same way massive mobilization during the last 24 hours about 80% completed, involving some 170,000 Israeli troops already called up, with the danger of a military move tonight. He explained that President Eisenhower had written to Prime Minister Ben Gurion two days ago4 and said that this afternoon’s statement, together with another message to Ben Gurion,5 is in the nature of a supplemental appeal for restraint on the part of Israel. Mr. Murphy emphasized the President’s hope that the British and French Prime Ministers would make a similar appeal [Page 804] and would do whatever they can in the way of using their influence to calm the situation.

Mr. Coulson said that the British Government had yesterday instructed its Ambassador in Tel Aviv to inquire of the Foreign Minister regarding reports of troop mobilization. He did not have any word as yet as to action which might have been taken by the Ambassador. Mr. Murphy inquired of Ambassador Alphand regarding reports of the movement of the Jean Bart and the Georges Leygues to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Ambassador said he had no reports of this; he went on to say that the French Navy was patrolling the Algerian coast but that he was not aware of any ship movements to the Eastern Mediterranean.

Mr. Coulson remarked that he assumed that Mr. Murphy’s reference to consultation among the three powers was for the purpose of exerting a restraining influence. He asked in that connection whether the United States is sending additional naval vessels to the Eastern Mediterranean. Mr. Murphy replied that our purpose is to encourage restraint on the part of all parties involved and said that we are not sending any vessels to the Eastern Mediterranean.

Mr. Murphy emphasized that President Eisenhower takes a very serious view of this evolution of the situation in the Middle East. The President assumes that Paris and London will take a similarly serious view.

Mr. Rountree reviewed briefly the reports of disorders and demonstrations directed against the French on the Algerian question in Amman, Aleppo, and Jerusalem where the old French Consulate has reportedly been burned by mob action. He mentioned that there is some excitement in Damascus but said that the general strike in Egypt had been carried out without disorder. In answer to a question by Mr. Murphy, Ambassador Alphand said that things seem a bit calmer in Morocco. He said that changes in the government there have brought a concentration of Istiqlal forces in the Cabinet with Si Bekkai remaining as Prime Minister.

The group then reconvened in the Secretary’s office.6

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2856. Secret. Drafted by Bennett.↩
  2. On July 17, the British Government informed the United States that Ambassador Makins would be leaving his post in Washington to become the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and that he would be replaced by Sir Harold Anthony Caccia, the Deputy Under Secretary of State in the British Foreign Office. On October 11, Makins left the United States by plane for London. Sir Harold Caccia embarked for the United States on November 1 and presented his credentials at the White House on November 9 (see Document 562). During the interim, John E. Coulson served as Chargé d’Affaires. (Letter from Dulles to Eisenhower, July 18; Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Memoranda; memorandum from Elbrick to Hoover, October 10; Department of State, Central Files, 601.4111/10–1056)↩
  3. Supra.↩
  4. Reference is presumably to Eisenhower’s letter to Ben Gurion, Document 388.↩
  5. Document 394.↩
  6. See the memorandum of conversation, infra.↩