289. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Ambassador in France (Houghton), November 13, 1957, 6:26 p.m.1
TELEPHONE CALL TO AMB HOUGHTON
The Sec said he talked to the Pres and he sees no solution except for H to make a last effort and say to the French to deliver this small amount tomorrow and then talk about it afterwards. It is a small token amount which we are pledged to deliver if they don’t and there is plenty of time to talk. L2 got a negative reply almost the same as ours except they talked about not receiving arms from the East so it was not as categorical as ours. The British are going along with us. Their Amb will if necessary support this last-minute representation—if H can make it tonight and H said he will try. Also Lloyd suggested we should get Bourguiba in receiving these arms to state voluntarily he will expect to get arms from the West and we will send a message to our fellow urging him to urge that upon Bourguiba. H repeated his instructions and the Sec added the French can express the hope but make no conditions. H said he would go ahead with it himself (even though he said his advice was not asked [Page 754] for), and will call if he gets anything out of them. The Sec repeated this is the result of his talk with the Pres in Oklahoma City. H asked for a reply to the message from Gaillard. The Sec will but not tonight.