57. Editorial Note
According to Dulles’ Appointment Book, the Secretary arrived outside Washington at noon, August 3, and proceeded immediately to the State Department where he discussed the Suez situation over lunch with Hoover, Murphy, and Phleger. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) No account of this conversation has been found in Department of State files. At 2:15 p.m., the Secretary telephoned Allen Dulles. Their conversation, as transcribed by Bernau, went as follows:
“AWD said congratulations. They agreed it was tough. The Sec. said the fellows there are steamed up. They agreed the job is not done yet—just a cooling-off period. They agreed there should be a meeting at the Sec’s house to pull together the next steps. The following will be present: AWD, K. Roosevelt, someone from Defense [Page 132] and the JCS which Mr. Hoover will arrange, G. Humphrey?, Hoover?, Phleger, Murphy, Elbrick, Rountree.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Memoranda of Conversation)
At approximately 2:30 p.m., Dulles and Hoover met with President Eisenhower at the White House. (Dulles’ Appointment Book; Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) Presumably at this meeting, Dulles, Hoover, and Eisenhower reviewed the Suez situation; but no account of the discussion has been found in either Department of State files or the Eisenhower Library. Later that evening, Secretary Dulles delivered a televised report to the nation on the Suez situation. A transcript of this report is in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 728, and is printed in Department of State Bulletin, August 13, 1956, pages 259–261; and in The Suez Canal Problem, July 26–September 22, 1956, pages 37–42.
On Saturday, August 4, at 11:15 a.m. at Dulles’ home, a meeting was held on the Suez situation. According to the Secretary’s Appointment Book, those present at the meeting were: Allen Dulles, Kermit Roosevelt, Gordon Gray, Arthur Flemming, George Humphrey, Herbert Hoover, Jr., Herman Phleger, Robert Murphy, C. Burke Elbrick, William Rountree, Eugene McAuliffe, and John B. Hollister. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) No account of this conversation has been found in Department of State files.