457. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce (Weeks), Washington, November 1, 1956, 11:34 a.m.1

TELEPHONE CALL TO SEC. WEEKS

The Sec. said the Pres. has agreed we should suspend shipments of goods of a military character to countries engaged in hostilities— jeeps etc. but don’t know definition. You are already suspending those for Egypt—W thinks so. The Sec. said he does not know his list but wish W. would think about it. Give the list the same kind of review as the Egyptian list—would not give publicity—this would cover Egypt and Israel. W. asked re letting it go to Br and Fr, and the Sec. said yes—we have not decided what to do about them. W. [Page 918] will get the list and see what is being done re Egypt. The Sec. thinks they are doing something more broadly for Egypt than you would have to do for Israel. W. wishes the Sec. would look at Br and Fr. The Sec. assured him we are. W. will report back. The precise paper says, and the Sec. read, the issuance of export licenses should be delayed for goods of a semi-military nature on the positive list. W. asked re Jordan and the Sec. said no—so far no hostilities involved there. The Sec. said we have other pressures for Br and Fr but we don’t want it publicly announced at the moment.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.