667. Editorial Note
On December 21, the Egyptian Delegation to the United Nations had submitted to the General Assembly a draft resolution (U.N. doc. A/3471) calling for an assessment of the damage caused Egypt by the military operations of Israel, France, and the United Kingdom, as a basis for the payment of compensation to Egypt. The text of this draft resolution was transmitted to the Department of State in Delga 391, December 21. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/12–2156)
[Page 1337]On the morning of December 21 the following discussion took place at the Secretary’s Staff Meeting concerning the Egyptian action: “Mr. Phleger, with reference to reports that the Egyptians intend to open debate about the claims for damages arising from the blockade of the Suez Canal, said that we should move very cautiously and hold over the Egyptian Government’s head the thought that the Egyptian Government itself is liable for all charges for clearance of the Canal and for damage claims arising out of blocking, which the Egyptians perpetrated. Mr. Henderson suggested that a fact finding commission under UN auspices would be a good way to establish responsibility for the blocking of the Canal and Mr. Rountree noted that the French have been thinking of a commission to go into this question as well as the matters of damages arising from the British-French attack and from the confiscation by the Egyptian Government of property of British and French nationals.” (Tentative Notes; ibid., Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)