Office of the Historian

426. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and Senator William F. Knowland in California, October 30, 1956, 1:02 p.m.1

October 30, 1956, 1:02 p.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM SENATOR KNOWLAND IN SACRAMENTO

K. asked re the ultimatum he sees on a ticker. Are we a party to it. The Sec. said he never heard of it before K. did. No intimation of it. K. is shocked and does not think the Congress or the American people … .2 The Sec. said he does not know it is true but it seems to be. K. said it might indicate they put the Israelis up to it. The Sec. said the evidence is the Israelis were used as a decoy. K. is shocked. The Sec. said he had solemn assurances they would not— though they were private. K. praised the Sec. for the way he has handled himself. The Sec. said we have got the res in the UN. K. said that is safe as far as the people are concerned. He added the UN has an obligation on an occupation should it occur.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.↩
  2. Ellipsis in the source text.↩