144. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, February 24, 1957, 6:45 p.m.1
TELEPHONE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT
The Sec said the situation looks more promising. The big difficulty is the Gaza Strip. The Sec said he thought we could work out a satisfactory arrangement about the Gulf of Aqaba, but re the Gaza Strip they want something more re the total elimination of Egyptian authority there than is possible. However, the Sec said that was a matter to work out with Hammarskjold. The Sec said Eban was going to New York tonight to talk to Hammarskjold. The Sec said he thought they could get the substance of what they want but whether they could have the form or not he did not know. He did not think so. The Pres said the UN would stay in Gaza until the Sec Gen was satisfied that it could not be used as a source of raids, etc., against Israel, the refugee problem was solved—that would take years. The Sec said he did not know whether the UN would give that assurance. Egypt had the right to occupy the territory under the Armistice. The Pres said the Armistice had been proposed by the UN. The Sec said yes, but it had been agreed to by both, and Israel would be the last to admit the UN could unilaterally dissolve it. The Sec said it was a question of national pride. The Sec said Ben Gurion wants to make a speech saying they have ended once and for all Egyptian control. The Sec said they are willing to retire in the Gulf of Aqaba and according to our Aide-Mémoire. They will withdraw from Gaza and have UNEF forces go in, but they want to be sure that the old type of Egyptian administration will not come back. The Pres said we could assure them that it would not be a source of danger. We were now in there taking care of refugees, and could keep observers there indefinitely. The Sec read the statement which Eban made at the end of the meeting. The Pres said it was very good. The Sec said he was now going to call Lodge. The Pres said that we could say to the contending parties that if they want 20 million they better get on board—this was not really bribery. The Sec laughed. The Sec said he felt better tonight than he had for a long time.
The Pres said he had called Lyndon Johnson to thank him for his statement at the end of the Senatorial meeting in the morning. The Pres said he soothed him re the letter incident. The Pres said that what really made Johnson angry was that two syndicated columnists were [Page 269] waiting outside the door when Hill brought the letter.2 The Sec said he knew that, that Hill had said it was just a coincidence.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Carolyn Proctor.↩
- Reference is to Document 127.↩