498. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State1
Delga 8. For Hoover from Lodge. Re Palestine. As reported to Acting Secretary, shortly prior to vote tonight on Canadian, Norwegian, Colombian resolution establishing UN command, Pearson (Canada) informed me that he had just talked to Prime Minister St. Laurent. The Prime Minister had himself just talked to Eden by telephone in London. Eden said they appreciated Canadian good intentions but were going ahead with landings in Egypt. St. Laurent told Eden they could not expect help from Canada since they were not in agreement with UK. We communicated this immediately to Hammarskjold and agreed with him it was desirable press at once to vote on Canadian, Norwegian, Colombian resolution and move ahead as quickly as possible on getting Canadian troops from West Germany into Egypt before UK-French landings.
We succeeded in completing vote at 12:17 a.m., November 5, 1956.
After session I told Pearson that we would be ready to fly troops from Europe to area, that it was very desirable to get there [Page 983] immediately. He said that under Canadian constitutional practice this would require act of Canadian Parliament which would mean two day delay, unless Canadian Prime Minister decided to do it and then get approval of Parliament afterwards. He said that Prime Minister was thinking this over. I also told Hammarskjold that following telephone conversation with Acting Secretary US did not believe UN forces should go if Anglo-French forces were there already. Hammarskjold agreed (see my telegram Delga 7).2