480. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, November 3, 1956, 6:50 p.m.1
SUBJECT
- Consideration of the Middle East and Hungarian Situations by the United Nations General Assembly
PARTICIPANTS
- Ambassador Alphand, French Embassy
- Minister Lucet, French Embassy
- Mr. Murphy, G
- Mr. Elbrick, EUR
- Mr. Phillips, IO
- Mr. Bennett, G
In considering the suggestion for a United Nations force to take over responsibilities in the Suez Canal, Ambassador Alphand expressed the opinion that his government would prefer to join in a proposal which would call for an international force in which could be incorporated the British and French troops now in the Suez area, similar to the inclusion of United States forces in Korea in the United Nations operation there. In response to a question from Mr. Murphy, the Ambassador acknowledged that Egyptian approval would be required for the entry of such an international force onto Egyptian territory, for otherwise the United Nations force would merely be replacing British and French troops.
Ambassador Alphand stated that he had been instructed to make clear to the Secretary-General of the UN that Egypt had voluntarily sunk obstructions in the Suez Canal. This had been a calculated action by Egypt and was not the result of British and French bombing as alleged by the Egyptians. He was instructed to point out to the Secretary-General that the Egyptian action constituted a violation of the 1888 Canal Convention.
[Here follows discussion of the situation in Hungary.]
Discussion then reverted to the Middle East. Mr. Phillips reviewed the two U.S. resolutions introduced by Ambassador Lodge. Ambassador Alphand said that he was certain that our resolution regarding the establishment of a UN commission would not be acceptable to his government. He had no instructions, but the French had always opposed this kind of committee activity. Mr. Phillips said that our aim had been to avoid outright condemnation of the British and French, and Mr. Murphy stressed the strong feeling in the Assembly and the probability of Asian-African resolutions condemning [Page 956] the British and French. Ambassador Alphand said that he had heard that India was trying to exercise moderation in that group. He commented that the U.S. resolution does not take into account the UK-French declaration made by Prime Minister Eden this morning.
Mr. Murphy replied that our resolution is by no means final. It is open to amendment. He understood that Canada is working on a resolution. He pointed out to Ambassador Alphand that the Assembly is a large body. The U.S. wishes to be in a position to still the probable clamor for sanctions against the British and French. We must use our ingenuity in order to induce moderation in that body, which neither we nor the French can control absolutely.
In response to an inquiry from Mr. Murphy, the Ambassador said that he had no information regarding the situation in Egypt beyond the fact that Egypt had blocked the Canal by sinking vessels and other equipment in the waterway.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320.5774/11–356. Confidential. Drafted by Bennett.↩