429. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Dulles in Washington and External Affairs Secretary Pearson in Ottawa, October 30, 1956, 3 p.m.1

TELEPHONE CALL TO MIKE PEARSON IN OTTAWA

The Sec. said he is greatly concerned at these developments. All of his efforts have blown up. P. said he just talked with the High Comm in London.2 The Sec. said the ultimatum is as brutal as anything he has seen. P said his impression is it is stupid. He does not see what they are going to make of it. He has been talking with the PM and told Roberts 3 we greeted it with dismay. The Sec. told of the message to Eden and Mollet.4 He does not think it will do good—it has gone so far. The Sec. said we have been in complete ignorance. P said they did not know and hard to believe they have not been doing something as it happened so suddenly. The Sec. told how we had been blacked out re their activities for 10 days etc. etc. P. said none of their planes have gone forward nor will they. P. sent a message after talking with Merchant. He talked with Roberts and will get a telegram off though he does not know it will do good. He will be glad to do that as he shares the Sec’s feeling on this act. The Sec. said just at the time the SU is falling in disarray and losing all credit, now we come along with action as bad or worse. P. agreed and said when the SC is meeting. P. said the movement has started and he has no illusion about it.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.
  2. Norman Robertson.
  3. Reference is presumably to Robertson.
  4. Infra .