Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Suez Crisis, July 26–December 31, 1956, Volume XVI

599. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of the Treasury (Humphrey), Washington, November 21, 1956, 3:07 p.m.¹

Washington, November 21, 1956, 3:07 p.m.

President called Secretary Humphrey. Apparently “fig leaves” did not mean merely financial help. It may have been something else that we have not even guessed. Humphrey said he had a hunch it was something else, as he thought had Hoover. Said something had come through on the ticker to indicate that the UN would undertake to close [clean] up the Canal. He questioned whether Burgess should go over to England now, said he thought the US had accomplished the purpose we wanted to accomplish—it looks to him as though it is up to the British to make the next move. He said if he were doing it alone, he would stick still now and wait until we hear further from them. The President said “that is correct.” He said further that somewhere as between the British and ourselves there was a vagueness, not a frankness that he would like. We don’t get the points cleared up that we would like. Humphrey agreed that the only way there would be frankness would be by a meeting. He said he thought “one of them” (Butler or Macmillan) ought to come over here.

President suggested an OEEC meeting, but Humphrey is afraid of OEEC trying to get in and decide where the money the United States will lend will go. He does not want another “Marshall Plan.”

President said he made suggestion because of timing, does not want to lose everything we have gained. He repeated his conversation with the Prime Minister of Tunisia.² He said he was not going to fall under Nasser… .

Humphrey said we have got to keep working with the Arabs. We are on their side until these fellows get out. After they get out, we ought to be in the position of neutral friend of both that both can trust to try to work out a fair deal. The President agreed.

Humphrey reported that Hoover talked to the Italian Ambassador and the Italian Ambassador repeated to the press everything he said.³ He referred again to the fact he did not want OEEC to divvy up the money. He said we want to be generous, but at the same time watch our step and certainly make our own decisions.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Prepared in the Office of the President.
2. For the memorandum of this conversation, see vol. XVIII, p. 656.
3. The story appeared in The New York Times, November 21.