U.S.-ISRAELI DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING THE DISPOSITION OF GAZA AND ISRAELI ACCESS THROUGH THE STRAITS OF TIRAN; CONSIDERATION OF ARAB-ISRAELI PROBLEMS DURING THE NASSER VISIT; MOVEMENT TOWARD SANCTIONS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST IN THE ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL QUESTION; ISRAELI DECISION TO WITHDRAW FORCES FROM THE SINAI PENINSULA AND THE GAZA STRIP, JANUARY 1–MARCH 8


1. Memorandum of a Conversation Between Secretary of State Dulles and Secretary-General Hammarskjöld, Ambassador Lodge’s Apartment, Waldorf Astoria, New York, December 31, 1956, 1–3 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–257. Drafted by Dulles on January 2. The source text indicates that Ambassador Lodge was also present.


2. Note From Secretary of State Dulles to Secretary-General Hammarskjöld

Source: USUN Files, Unnumbered Files, Suez Canal. According to the notes of the Secretary’s Staff Meeting for January 3, this note and the enclosure were not delivered to Hammarskjöld until January 2. (Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)


3. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/12–3156. Received at 8:36 a.m., January 1. Repeated to Cairo, Amman, Damascus, Beirut, Paris, London, and USUN.


5. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–457. Confidential. Repeated to Cairo, Amman, Damascus, Beirut, Paris, London, USUN, and Jerusalem.


6. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/12–3156. Confidential. Drafted by Bergus. Approved by Rountree who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, London, Paris, and USUN.


7. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.80/1–557. Confidential. Drafted by Rockwell. Approved for transmission by Rountree who signed for Dulles.


9. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–857. Confidential. Repeated to Amman, Damascus, Jidda, USUN, London, Paris, and Jerusalem.


10. Note From Secretary of State Dulles to the Israeli Ambassador (Eban)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/12–2556. Drafted by Blackiston and Rockwell and cleared with Gamon.


12. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.80/1–1057. Secret; Priority. Received at 5 a.m., January 11. Repeated to London, to Paris, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Jidda, and Tel Aviv.


13. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.00/1–1057. Secret; Priority. Received at 11:38 a.m., January 11. Repeated to London, Paris, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, and Damascus. Presumably the time of transmission indicated on the source text is incorrect.


15. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, January 11, 1957

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/1–1157. Secret. Drafted by Tyler.


16. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.00/1–1157. Secret; Priority. Received at 6:49 p.m. Repeated to London, Paris, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, and Jidda.


17. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–957. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by De Palma; cleared by Wilcox, Rountree, Phleger, and Greene; and approved by Dulles.

On January 11, Greene forwarded the text of telegram 507 to Dulles under cover of a note which reads: “Attached for your approval is the redraft of the telegram on Israeli withdrawal discussed at the meeting in your office yesterday. The new draft incorporates a change in paragraphs 2b and c about the strength of UNEF forces; it now provides that these are to be in a strength to be determined by General Burns. It was my understanding that at the meeting you thought the strength should be agreed between the SYG and General Burns.

“The end of the telegram, particularly paragraphs 2f and 3 have been redrafted in the light of the discussion yesterday and language has been added to indicate that we would not support the sanctions against Israel as long as Egypt is in ‘default’ of UN resolutions. This is somewhat more limited language than discussed yesterday along the lines that we would not apply sanctions against one party in the dispute who might be in violation of UN resolutions as long as both parties are in violation.” (ibid., 674.84A/1–1157)

According to Dulles’ Appointment Book, the Secretary met with Rountree, Phleger, Wilcox, and several others regarding the Israeli withdrawal, beginning at 3:50 p.m. on January 10. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) No account of this meeting has been found in Department of State files.


18. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Assistant Secretary of State for Policy Planning (Bowie), Washington, January 12, 1957, 10:10 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Asbjornson.


19. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, January 12, 1957, 10:55 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Prepared in the Office of the President.


20. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–U57. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by De Palma; cleared by Rockwell, Murphy, and Meeker (in substance); approved by Wilcox who signed for Dulles.


21. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–1257. Confidential; Priority. Received at 8:14 p.m.


22. Memorandum From Albert F. Bender, Jr., to the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge)

Source: USUN Files, Unnumbered File, IO: Emergency Force. Limited Official Use. Bender was an Adviser for Legal and International Organization Affairs, attached to the U.S. Permanent Mission at the United Nations.


23. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–1457. Confidential. Received at 11:06 p.m.


24. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/1–1557. Confidential; Priority. Received at 11:07 p.m.


26. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, White House, Washington, January 17, 1957,10:55 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Secret; Personal and Private. Drafted by Dulles.


27. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.5–MSP/1–1857. Confidential. Drafted by Waggoner and Rockwell; approved by Wilkins who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Jidda, and Tel Aviv.


28. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/1–1957. Confidential. Drafted by Shaw and approved by Wilkins who signed for Dulles.