Office of the Historian

427. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, October 30, 1956, 2:17 p.m.1

Washington, October 30, 1956, 2:17 p.m.

Secy. Dulles.

He will proceed on the UN matter at 3 o’clock today. Will have their resolution then. British & French have asked that action should be suspended until consideration could be given to the Eden proposals. But they propose to go ahead, & state that 2 items (Israeli invasion; & Suez Canal) should be kept separate & distinct.

Dulles said they gave a 12-hour ultimatum to Egypt that is about as crude & brutal as anything he has ever seen. He does not think there is much use in studying it. Said that of course by tomorrow they will be in.

The President asked, aren’t they partially in now? Mr. Dulles did not know, but thinks not yet. They gave this 12-hour ultimatum apparently at noon.

President asked why they suggest waiting. Dulles said their reason is that Eden has made an important speech, & they want us to wait until we study it. The President just now received the ultimatum—so Mr. Dulles read his copy aloud.2 The President agreed that it was pretty rough. Dulles said it is utterly unacceptable.

President thinks they would expect the Russians to be in on this. Asked where is Egypt going to turn?

Mr. Dulles said he did not know, but agreed with President on idea of the Russians. He again said he thinks we should push ahead on our resolution.

President wondered how the request came to us. Dulles replied that Dixon gave it to Lodge in N.Y.; & they also had message from the French Embassy here suggesting we defer action on our matter today. If we push it now, President asked, don’t we tend to confuse these 2 issues? Dulles replied, no, on the contrary. One would be armistice between Egypt & Israel. The Suez Canal is still on our agenda, & should be taken up under the other agenda item.

President said it is all right with him that they go ahead—added that, after all, they haven’t consulted with us on anything.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Prepared in the Office of the President. Another memorandum of this conversation, transcribed by Bernau in Dulles’ office, is ibid., Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations.↩
  2. See Document 420.↩