Office of the Historian

65. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Anderson) and the Secretary of State, Washington, August 6, 1956, 10:23 a.m.1

Washington, August 6, 1956, 10:23 a.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM DILLON ANDERSON

The Sec. returned the call, and A. said he talked with the Pres. re NSC discussion on the ME. The Sec. said he understood it would be brought up Thursday.2 The Sec. is seeing the Pres. at 3 and DA will be prepared to join for that portion of the mtg. They agreed Defense is anxious to have a meeting to present their point of view. The Sec. said he does not take particular exception to their views as expressed. The Sec. thinks they feel left out though we have tried to get them in meetings but many are absent. A. said the Pres. seemed to have in mind that necessary studies in various departments should be underway on an urgent basis. He did not contemplate any decisions. The Sec. does not think any are called for unless it develops some papers are obsolete. A. will have Lay run a check on that. The Sec. said if for any reason this conf. breaks down, the situation will be grave and he thinks the British and French will move in with force. They agreed all lines cross Syria3 and will probably be blown up.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.↩
  2. August 9.↩
  3. Reference is to the fact that oil pipelines from both Iraq and Saudi Arabia passed through Syria.↩