Office of the Historian

302. Tentative Notes of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Department of State, Washington, April 26, 1957, 9:15 a.m.1

Washington, April 26, 1957, 9:15 a.m.

[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]

[Page 572]

4. Suez—Security Council—Mr. Dillon reported that Caccia was disturbed over the U.S. ship now going through the Canal calling it the first “Conference ship”, apparently being one of those which had been involved in the earlier Suez conference.2 The UK would like us to renew our “prudence” advice to shippers until the Security Council has acted. Mr. Dillon said that he had pointed out to Caccia that this was inconsistent with the simultaneous UK request that the U.S. make a statement in the Security Council that its payments under protest would be until arrangements can be made for payment to the Universal Suez Canal Company.

The Secretary was concerned that the UK may now be changing its position and now is moving much closer to the French position.3 Mr. Wilcox pointed out that the UK claims their public opinion is now so strong that the UK cannot be satisfied with simply one session of the Security Council nor an appearance of a Nasser victory. The UK does not want to recess without provision for continuation of the negotiations.4 The Secretary pointed out that we want to bring our role to an end because it is no longer productive; indeed we may wish to take a considerably tougher line because of the Jordanian situation which would make us less appropriate as a negotiator.

The Secretary remembered the letter handed him by Caccia on Sunday clearly presenting the UK position on the Security Council, which was described as seeking a “de facto provisional agreement”.5 He wanted to be sure that Ambassador Lodge had this and that both Lodge and the Department should take appropriate steps to assure that the UK adhered closely to this position taken on Sunday.

Action: AskedIO to make sure that USUN had the UK position as expressed by Ambassador Caccia and that both the Department and USUN seek to have the UK adhere strictly to this position.

[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]

  1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75. Secret. Drafted by Howe.↩
  2. The American flagship, the President Jackson, transited the Canal on April 24.↩
  3. Ambassador Alphand told Secretary Dulles on April 24 that French ships would not be permitted to go through the Canal and that French representatives in the Security Council would vigorously attack the Egyptian declaration of April 24. (Memorandum of conversation by Tyler, April 24; Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/4–2457)↩
  4. Coulson made these points during a conversation with Wilcox on April 25. The memorandum of conversation by Adams is ibid., 974.7301/4–2557.↩
  5. Document 294.↩