Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1957, Volume XVII

166. Notes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Department of State, Washington, February 28, 1957, 9:15 a.m.¹

Washington, February 28, 1957, 9:15 a.m.

Israeli Withdrawal

1. The Secretary said he was forced to leave shortly to go to the White House. He said he believed that messages should be sent promptly to the Middle East regarding the status of our negotiation with the Israelis and the United Nations lest the Israelis put an aspect on it which would not accord with our policy objectives. Mr. Rountree reported that the Israelis began last night a concerted propaganda campaign by furnishing background information to the press. Mr. Phleger called attention to the Arab Four Power statement which took a strong stand on the question of territorial waters and the Suez Canal.² Mr. Phleger also suggested we inform Hammarskjold of the results of our negotiations with the Israelis at the earliest possible moment. Mr. Phleger and Ambassador Richards pointed out that the US position on the Gulf of Aqaba and the Straits of Tehran [Tiran] was made public two weeks ago in our Aide-Mémoire and was restated by the President in his recent speech.

The Secretary said the next step as he saw it was to speak to Secretary General Hammarskjold, the Arab countries, and Members of Congress. He asked Mr. Rountree to draft a circular message to our posts in Arab countries which could be dispatched as soon as a definite statement was received from the Israelis later in the morning:³ he also asked Mr. Rountree to prepare a personal message on the same subject from the President to King Nasser and said the draft should be sent to him at the NSC meeting.⁴ In addition he requested Mr. Rountree to confer with Mr. Hill and propose the method and timing that the Department should adopt in informing members of Congress. The Secretary said he felt that the question of talking to Secretary General Hammarskjold could await a decision by him after lunch.

Action:

Asked NEA to prepare a circular message to all posts in Arab countries on the results of our negotiations regarding an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza and the Coast of the Gulf of Aqaba; also requested NEA, in coordination with H, to propose the method and timing to be used to inform members of Congress.

[Here follows the intelligence briefing by Armstrong.]

Basis for Israeli Withdrawal

3. Senator George asked what commitments Israel sought in return for withdrawal from Gaza and the coast bordering the Gulf of Aqaba. Mr. Phleger stated that Israel will announce its withdrawal based on the UN resolutions without conditions but will reserve its freedom of action if peaceful conditions do not continue to exist in the Gaza area. He emphasized that no contractual situation existed; and that no commitments or secret undertakings had been given by the US. With regard to the Gulf of Aqaba, Mr. Phleger observed that we made our position clear both in the Aide-Mémoire and in the President’s speech.

[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]

1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75. Secret. The source text does not indicate a drafting officer.
2. On February 27, King Nasser, King Hussein, President Quwatly, and President Nasser, who had been meeting in Cairo since February 25, issued a joint communiqué which summarized the contents of their talks and the conclusions reached. For text of the communiqué, see United States Policy in the Middle East, September 1956–July 1957, pp. 321–322.
3. See circular telegram 720, Document 170.
4. Eisenhower’s message to Saud was transmitted to the Embassy in Jidda for delivery at 8:17 p.m. that evening in telegram 661. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/2–2856)