Office of the Historian

490. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel1

Washington, November 4, 1956—4:32 a.m.

461. You should (Embtel 485)2 orally inform Israeli ForMin along following preliminary lines on which we may have further comment:

We have no info at this time Syria intends attack Israel. Syria has from time to time told us that it intends to defend itself if attacked by Israel and has referred to Egyptian-Syrian defense pact. We strongly support UNGA res Nov 2 which calls for cease fire and withdrawal of troops as well as UNGA resolutions Nov 4 directing SYG re cease fire, halt of movement of mil forces and plan for emergency Intl UN Force. We cannot condone any steps which would lead to mil action. We assume ForMin in touch with Genl Burns and will be transmitting through him for Syria and for Jordan assurances of Israel’s peaceful intent. We on our part would be happy to confirm to Syria and Jordan assurances which Israel sends through Genl Burns. We reiterate at this crucial hour, in spirit of President’s and Secretary’s earlier appeals, our hope that Israel will take no action which would further imperil situation and will avoid hostilities and will turn to UN, which is now meeting, to settle any difficulties between Israel and Syria and between Israel and Jordan.

FYI Your comments to ForMin should take into account fact Israel statement may be attempt to justify Israeli attack.3

Hoover
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/11–356. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Wilkins, cleared with Rountree, and approved by Wilkins who signed for Hoover. Repeated Niact to Amman, Jerusalem, Damascus, and to Beirut, Cairo, Paris, London, and USUN.↩
  2. Document 488.↩
  3. Later that day Lawson reported that Foreign Minister Meir had complained that the United States was placing Israel and not Syria in the position of a defendant who was being told to behave itself. The United States, she maintained, should be seeking assurances of peaceful intent from Syria and Jordan, not Israel. Meir insisted: “We have no aggressive intentions. But if we are attacked, we will fight back. I am convinced that if Syria, Jordan and Iraq altogether attack us tonight we shall be able to cope with them in same manner as with Egypt. Point is we don’t want to fight anybody.” (Telegram 491 from Tel Aviv, November 4; Department of State, Central Files, 684a.86/11–956)↩