Office of the Historian

136. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) in New York, February 22, 1957, 5:40 p.m.1

Washington, February 22, 1957, 5:40 p.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM AMB. LODGE

Lodge reported on the afternoon meeting,2 saying they had had a rather good speech from Malik and then recessed. The Sec. Gen. read the report on the Gaza Strip.3 The Sec. said the report was important. [Page 245] The Sec. asked if it was cleared with Nasser and Lodge said he though so. (He checked with Barco who said it was.)4

Amb. Lodge wanted to know what to expect for the weekend and the Sec. said it did not appear that Eban would show up in Washington before Sunday. The Sec. mentioned his talk with Barbour in London.5

Lodge said everyone was waiting for us. The Latinos would do what we ask them to do. Lodge did not think the Sec. would get anything out of Eban. One of our people had talked to a member of the Israeli Delegation in NY and Eban would have nothing. They would not agree to having the United Nations Emergency Force on Israeli soil. They would be willing to withdraw from Gaza but not withdraw civil administration.

Amb. Lodge said the Secretary’s resolution was good. He had received the Secretary’s phoned changes. Lodge spoke of Pearson’s resolution as being “too little and too late”.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Asbjornson.↩
  2. The U.N. General Assembly discussed the Middle East situation at its 659th meeting which began at 3 p.m. on February 22. (U.N. doc. A/PV.659)↩
  3. See the editorial note, infra.↩
  4. Later that day in Delga 785, Lodge reported that prior to the General Assembly meeting he had been told by Hammarskjöld that the statement concerning Gaza had been cleared by Egypt. (Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/2–2257)↩
  5. Barbour informed Dulles that Eban would not get to Washington before Sunday, February 24, and that Eban had no plans to talk with British officials while in London. (Memorandum of telephone conversation by Asbjornson, February 22; Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations)↩