Office of the Historian

523. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, November 6, 19561

Washington, November 6, 1956

SUBJECT

  • Egyptian Request for Help of the United States

PARTICIPANTS

  • Dr. Ahmed Hussein, Ambassador of Egypt
  • The Acting Secretary
  • Mr. William M. Rountree, Assistant Secretary, NEA
  • Mr. Fraser Wilkins, Director, NE

The Egyptian Ambassador called at the Department today to present a note from the Government of Egypt in which it requested the help of the United States (Tab A). Prior to handing this note to the Acting Secretary, the Egyptian Ambassador had a preliminary discussion with Assistant Secretary Rountree.

On presenting the note to the Acting Secretary, Dr. Hussein said he had been instructed by his government to deliver it personally to the Acting Secretary. Mr. Hoover said he believed the fundamental problem today was whether the Government of Egypt would accept the establishment of a cease-fire under the resolutions of the General Assembly. The Ambassador replied he understood the Government of Egypt had already accepted the request for a cease-fire and the formation of a United Nations force but that the other parties had not yet responded. The Egyptian Ambassador also handed the Acting Secretary a copy of a statement which he had just received from Cairo regarding British bombing of Egypt (Tab B).2 The Ambassador continued that according to radio reports British and [Page 1022] French bombing of Cairo was continuing. He could not understand why this should be the case since Egypt had accepted a cease-fire. He also asked why Britain and France were continuing to send military forces into Egypt when Ambassador Lodge had indicated that the UN resolutions would prevent their introduction. He thought it was not honorable for two great powers to team up with one small power to attack a small country like Egypt. It would take years to repair the damage that had been done through British and French destruction. He hoped that the United States would come to Egypt’s help.

The Acting Secretary said he understood the trials to which Egypt was now subjected. He knew that the Secretary-General of the United Nations was making every effort under UN resolutions to bring about a cease-fire and was hopeful it would soon be effected. He did not believe he could speculate beyond that point at this moment.

[Tab A]

Note From the Egyptian Ambassador (Hussein) to the Acting Secretary of State

Washington, November 6, 1956.

Sir: Acting on instructions from my Government I have the honour to communicate to the Government of the United States of America the following appeal by the Egyptian Government in the name of the people of Egypt:

“At this historic hour of decision when the best values of humanity’s heritage are at stake and the human race is pushed back toward chaos and savagery, when France, Israel and the United Kingdom are launching a treacherous attack against Egypt and are defiantly bearing the standard of lawlessness and of shame, Egypt appeals for help by volunteers, arms or otherwise to all those who, all over the world, care still for the dignity of man and the rule of law in international relations.

“The people of Egypt are fighting a battle of survival and of honour. They are fighting it not only for themselves and their country but equally for the civilised world. As long as aggression continues against Egypt on her own territory and in defiance of the resolutions of the United Nations Egypt shall go on fighting in all determination and with every shred of its being against the forces of [Page 1023] evil and in behalf of decency and a life worth living. She needs your help.”

Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Ahmed Hussein
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684.86/11–656. Confidential. Drafted by Wilkins.↩
  2. Attached to the source text, but not printed.↩