Office of the Historian

487. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State1

New York, November 3, 1956—11 p.m.

Delga 2. Re Suez. Guiringaud (France) showed me a telegram from Joxe, Director General of Foreign Office, the purport of which is as follows:

“The US res on Suez takes a solution to the Canal problem entirely out of our hands.

1.
France is not a part of the proposed committee.
2.
France is placed on the same footing as Egypt, which is the guilty party.
3.
Committee receives exorbitant powers notably as regards the reopening of the Canal.
4.
International administration is for all practical purposes put to one side.[”]

This is very serious for Franco-American relations, particularly at a time when the US is so much less demanding regarding the Hungary item than it is concerning situation in Middle East. Guiringaud urged me not to let this matter come to a vote.”

Recommended action: that Dillon be instructed to explain to Joxe that he very seriously misunderstands res and that it does not contain the dangers to France which he evidently thinks that it does.

Lodge
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/11–356. Secret; Priority; Limited Distribution. Received at 11:24 p.m.↩