Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Suez Crisis, July 26–December 31, 1956, Volume XVI

428. Memorandum From the Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wentworth) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Radford)¹

Washington, October 30, 1956.

SUBJECT

• JCS Actions with respect to the Middle East Situation agreed upon at JCS Meeting 30 October 1956

At their meeting on 30 October 1956 the Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed to take the following actions with respect to the Middle East situation:

1. Send a memorandum to the Secretary of Defense requesting him to ask the State Department to secure the necessary authorization from the Government of Turkey to station a U.S. air task group at Adana, Turkey, in order to be prepared to assist in carrying out any directives which may be issued by the United Nations.²

2. Request representation from the Joint Chiefs of Staff of one general or flag officer (from JMEPC) on the Near East Watch Committee. The Chairman stated he would undertake with the State Department to secure this membership.

Wentworth

1. Source: JCS Records, OCJCS 091 Palestine (Jun 56–Dec 56). Top Secret.
2. In response to this memorandum, Secretary of Defense Wilson on October 30 sent a letter to Secretary Dulles requesting that the Department of State take action to acquire certain base rights requirements and overflight rights in order to move a substantial number of planes and accompanying Air Force personnel into the Middle East to help evacuate U.S. citizens. (Department of State, Central Files, 711.56300/10–3056) A supplemental memorandum on this subject from Radford to Wilson of November 1 was subsequently transmitted to Secretary Dulles by Assistant Secretary of Defense Gray on November 3. (Ibid., 711.56300/11–356)