527. Message From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Eden 1
Dear Anthony : I was delighted at the opportunity to talk with you on the telephone and to hear that the U.K. will order a cease-fire this evening. On thinking over our talk I wish to emphasize my urgent view a) that the UN Resolution on cease-fire and entry of a UN force be accepted without condition so as not to give Egypt with Soviet backing an opportunity to quibble or start negotiations; items such as use technical troops to clear canal can be handled later; b) that it is vital no excuse be given for Soviet participation in UN force, therefore all big five should be excluded from force as UN proposes. Any attack on UN force would meet immediate reaction from all UN; c) I think immediate consummation UN plan of greatest importance otherwise there might be invitation to developments of greatest gravity.
Sincerely hope you find it possible to agree with these views and can so inform Hammarskjold before tonight’s meeting.
[Page 1029]Let me say again that I will be delighted to have you call me at any time. The telephone connection seemed very satisfactory.2
Warmest regard,
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Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320.5774/11–656. Secret. Transmitted to London at 2:29 p.m. in telegram 3285, November 6, which is the source text, with the instruction: “Please deliver soonest following message from President to Eden. Confirm date and time delivery.” Telegram 3285 indicates the message was drafted by Phleger, cleared by Eisenhower, and approved by Greene. A draft of the message, in an unidentified hand, bears changes by Eisenhower. (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File). Telegram 2536 from London, November 7, reported delivery as of midnight November 6/7. (Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/11–756)
Telegram 1708 to Paris, November 6, transmitted the text of a similar message for delivery to Mollet. (Ibid., 320.5774/11–656)
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Dillon informed Dulles of the impact which this message had on the French Government in a letter dated November 7. Dillon wrote: “Last night I had one of the strangest experiences of my whole career here in Paris when, shortly after midnight, I delivered the President’s letter to Mollet asking him to agree that French forces would not be part of the international UN forces in Suez. For forty minutes I sat in Mollet’s office taking part in a sort of informal French Cabinet meeting with Pineau and the Minister of the Interior.
“Mollet seemed to get the idea fairly easily, but I engaged in about a half hour argument back and forth with Pineau, who could see nothing good in the President’s suggestion, while Mollet acted more or less as referee. Finally, I suggested that Mollet call up Eden to see what he felt about the matter. After a little persuasion Mollet agreed to do this, and when it was found that Eden’s position agreed with Mollet’s and the President’s on this particular point, Pineau’s opposition finally collapsed.” (Ibid., 110.11–DU/11–756)
↩ - Telegram 3285 bears this typed signature.↩