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

225. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations¹

Washington, March 15, 1957—3:48 p.m.

708. Re USUN 635² deliver following orally to SYG:

1. It is highly important to get answer promptly from Nasser on interim arrangement re canal, including payment of tolls, and Hammarskjold should press this point vigorously.

2. U.S. stands on Four Power proposal. Hammarskjold should make every effort to obtain Egyptian approval and should have no idea that U.S. will accept anything less.

3. If Egypt nevertheless rejects proposal, and makes counter proposal, Hammarskjold should forward such counter proposal to Four Powers promptly. He should in no event attempt to negotiate any compromise himself.

4. If Egypt makes no reply and attempts to open canal and collect 100 percent of tolls, determining unilaterally the disposition of the tolls, U.S. would consider such action a violation of the six principles adopted by Security Council and accepted by Egypt.

5. Lodge can tell Hammarskjold for his information only that Lodge assumes that if an interim solution for canal satisfactory to U.S. is reached and if agreement is reached on Gaza, U.S. would be prepared discuss regularizing economic relations with Egypt.

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/3–1557. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Dillon; cleared by Herter, Phleger, Rountree, and Elbrick; and approved by Wilcox who signed for Herter. Repeated Priority to Cairo. President Eisenhower also approved the message; see footnote 1, infra.
2. See footnote 1, Document 222.