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

70. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President in Thomasville, Georgia, and the Secretary of State in Washington, February 9, 1957, 1:31 p.m.¹

Washington, February 9, 1957, 1:31 p.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT IN THOMASVILLE

The Sec said we have been working all morning on the Israeli situation and he is thinking of having a meeting tomorrow morning with the Israeli Ambassador. Our minds are running: In the letter to the Pres from Ben Gurion² he summarized the position (here the Sec read from the letter). As to the second proposition the Sec does not see how we can at this time commit ourselves or anybody to rewrite the Armistice Agreement. Under it the Gaza Strip is turned over to Egypt for administration and policing. We would like to see the UNEF go in and control it but think that has to be worked out on a voluntary basis. We don’t think this is vital from the standpoint of the Israelis. We think what is vital is its access to the Gulf of Aqaba. We think they are not going to be satisfied with such hopes as we may hold out for UN action. It is not likely we could get a 2/3s resolution in the GA against the Afro-Asian-Soviet bloc and in the SC there would be a Soviet veto. We think we have to give them assurance outside the context of the UN. We are thinking of giving assurance that we and a group of maritime nations will assert the view it is an international waterway and as far as ships of our nationality are concerned we insist on their going through and if this is blocked, we would consider it an act of aggression. They could move in flags of other countries. The Sec said he does not know if the Pres has the power to use forceful measures to protect ships of Israel. We could say we would try to seek through the UN and other appropriate channels access for Israel ships. We can say more re putting our ships through than theirs.

The Pres said something here [about what King Saud had said concerning the rights of the pilgrims to access to the Holy Places]³ and the Sec said he was struck by it because it looked as though he was discounting the opening of the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli ships. Are you sure he put it that way? It is hard to be sure you have the refinements when it goes through an interpreter. [The Pres said he could not be sure.]

The Sec told the Pres who was at the meeting,⁴ and while George and Richards were silent he thinks everybody agreed toward working along this line. The Sec wants to refine a great deal what he wants to say. He may put it in a memorandum and call the Pres at 9 tomorrow and read it to him.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau. The President visited Milestone Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia, the home of Secretary of the Treasury George Humphrey, February 8–19. (Record of the President’s Daily Appointments; ibid.)
2. Document 68.
3. A typed note at the bottom of the source text indicates that Bernau could only hear Dulles’ side of the conversation; the bracketed portions of the memorandum indicate interpolations made later by Secretary Dulles.
4. According to Dulles’ Appointment Book, a meeting among Secretary Dulles, Murphy, Phleger, Richards, Wilcox, Rountree, Herter, George, and Allen Dulles was held at the Secretary’s home beginning at 11:40 a.m. on February 9. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers) No record of the meeting has been found.