505. Letter from Prime Minister Bulganin to President Eisenhower1
Dear Mr President: In alarming and responsible moment for cause general peace I appeal to you in name Soviet Govt.
Week has already passed since armed forces England, France and Israel, which is subservient to will external forces, attacked Egypt without any cause, causing death and destruction. Inhumane bombardments by English and French aviation of Egyptian aerodromes, ports, installations, cities, centers of population are taking place. Anglo-French troops have landed on Egyptian territory. From fire of occupiers have perished huge treasures created by work of Egyptian people, from day to day human sacrifices are increasing, before eyes whole world is unfolding aggressive war against Egypt, against Arab peoples, whose only fault consists of fact that they are defending their freedom and independence.
Situation in Egypt requires immediate and most decisive actions on part UN. If such actions are not undertaken, UN will lose in eyes of all mankind its prestige and will collapse.
Soviet Union and U.S. are permanent members of Security Council and are two great powers possessing all contemporary forms of armaments, including atom and hydrogen weapons. On US lies special responsibility to put stop to war and to restore peace and tranquility to area of Near and Middle East.
We are convinced that if Govts of USSR and USA firmly announce their will to guarantee peace and will condemn aggression then aggression will be terminated and there will be no war.
Mr. President, in these threatening hours when highest principles of morality, bases and objectives of UN are being subjected to an ordeal, Soviet Govt turns to Govt of U.S. with proposal for close cooperation to stop aggression and terminate further bloodshed.
U.S. has in area of Mediterranean Sea a strong naval fleet. Soviet Union also has strong naval fleet and powerful aviation. United and urgent use of these means on part of U.S. and Soviet Union in accordance with decision of UN would be reliable guarantee of termination of aggression against Egyptian people, against countries of Arab East.
[Page 994]Soviet Govt appeals to Govt of U.S. to unite their efforts in UN for adopting decisive measures to terminate aggression.
Soviet Govt already has appealed to Security Council and extraordinary special session of General Assembly with appropriate proposals.2
Such joint steps of U.S. and Soviet Union would not threaten interests of England and France. Popular masses of England and France do not want war. Just as much as our peoples, they desire preservation peace. Also many other govts along with England and France are interested in immediate pacification and restoration of normal functioning Suez Canal disrupted by military actions. Aggression against Egypt was by no means undertaken for sake of freedom of shipping through Suez Canal which was guaranteed. Piratical war was unleashed for purpose of restoring colonial order in East which had been overthrown by peoples. If this war is not stopped, it is fraught with danger and can grow into third world war.
If Soviet Union and U.S.A. support victim of aggression, then other member-governments of UN will unite with them in these efforts. At same time authority UN will be increased to significant degree, peace will be restored and strengthened.
Soviet Govt is prepared to enter into immediate negotiations with Govt U.S. on practical execution of proposals presented above in order that effective actions in interests peace could be undertaken in nearest future.
In this tense moment of history when fate of all Arab East along with that fate of world is being decided, I await favorable answer from you.
Sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/11–556. Secret. Transmitted in telegram 1081 from Moscow, November 5, received at 2:03 p.m., which is the source text. a copy of telegram 1081 is in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File.↩
- See the editorial note, supra.↩
- Telegram 1081 bears this typed signature.↩