439. Editorial Note
During the afternoon session of the Security Council, which convened at 4 p.m. on October 30, British Representative Dixon distributed the full text of Eden’s statement made before the House of Commons earlier that day. After quoting extensively from the statement and reading the texts of the Anglo-French ultimatum to Israel and Egypt, the British Representative then noted that there was no action which the Security Council could constructively take which would contribute to the twin objectives of stopping the fighting and safeguarding free passage through the Suez Canal. He concluded, therefore, that nothing could be gained by pressing consideration of the United States draft resolution, which had been tabled before the body. Ambassador Lodge, in turn, proceeded to open discussion on the United States draft, the text of which reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Noting that the armed forces of Israel have penetrated deeply into Egyptian territory in violation of the armistice agreement between Egypt and Israel;
“Expressing its grave concern at this violation of the armistice agreement;
- “1. Calls upon Israel immediately to withdraw its armed forces behind the established armistice lines;
- “2. Calls upon all Members
- “(a) to refrain from the use of force or threat of force in the area in any manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations;
- “(b) to assist the United Nations in ensuring the integrity of the armistice agreements;
- “(c) to refrain from giving any military, economic or financial assistance to Israel so long as it has not complied with this resolution;
- “3. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council informed on compliance with this resolution and to make whatever recommendations he deems appropriate for the maintenance of international peace and security in the area by the implementation of this and prior resolutions.” (U.N. doc. S/3710)
After some discussion, Lodge agreed to insert a new paragraph 1 to the draft, which reads: “Calls upon Israel and Egypt immediately [Page 882] to cease fire”, and to renumber the remaining paragraphs. The draft resolution as a whole was then brought to a vote. The result was seven in favor (China, Cuba, Iran, Peru, the Soviet Union, the United States, and Yugoslavia), two against (France and the United Kingdom), and two abstentions (Australia and Belgium). As the two negative votes were cast by permanent members of the Security Council, the draft resolution failed of adoption. The Representative of the Soviet Union then proposed that the Council adopt as a resolution the preamble and the original article 1 of the U.S. draft, which called for Israeli withdrawal. The Soviet draft, however, failed of adoption, due again to the negative votes of France and the United Kingdom. The United States abstained from voting on this draft resolution. (U.N. doc. S/PV.749) For text of Lodge’s remarks, made during the afternoon session, see Department of State Bulletin, November 12, 1956, pages 749–751.
At 9 p.m. that evening, the Security Council once again convened and agreed to include on its agenda a letter from the Government of Egypt requesting that the Security Council consider the Anglo-French act of aggression in sending Egypt an ultimatum. (U.N. doc. S/3712) After a 2-hour discussion, during which time another Soviet draft resolution (U.N. doc S/3713/Rev) was tabled and then vetoed by Great Britain and France, the Yugoslav Representative suggested that, as the Security Council had been rendered powerless by use of the veto, the members of the Council should consider the possibility of calling an emergency session of the General Assembly under the terms of General Assembly Resolution 377 (V), “Uniting for Peace.” (U.N. doc. S/PV.750)