453. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1
2120. Pineau sent for me this morning and gave me general background exposé of events leading up to initiation of hostilities and brief description of objectives of French and British Governments. [Page 901] He fully admitted that operation was long planned Franco-British-Israeli affair. Details will follow in succeeding telegram.2
Pineau then expressed great concern about tonight’s meeting of General Assembly. He said he fully expected and was prepared for a vote condemning Franco-British action but pointed out that resolution must be very carefully drafted so as not to give any possible excuse for a unilateral military intervention by the Soviet Union acting on behalf of United Nations. Such intervention could lead only to generalized world war or to complete occupation of Middle East by Soviet forces.
Pineau further said that primary reason for aerial bombardment of Egyptian air bases was to make it impossible for Soviet aircraft to fly into these bases from Soviet Union.
Finally, Pineau said that he hoped that General Assembly would consider Hungarian situation as well as Egyptian affair.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 651.74/11–156. Secret; Niact. Received at 7:11 a.m. Repeated to London and Niact to USUN.↩
- Telegram 2123, Document 459.↩