Office of the Historian

123. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State1

London, October 27, 1956—noon.

2316. For the Secretary. Paris for Ambassador. Reference: Deptel 3008.2 Lloyd with Eden’s approval agrees to joint US–UK inscription Hungary on Security Council agenda under Article 34. Also concurs action should be taken at once today. Immediate instructions being sent to Dixon New York to collaborate with us. Broad discretion being given him as to language in which item to be inscribed. British request joint announcement inscription as soon as action taken. Please confirm.

Lloyd said felt essential French be given chance to join US–UK in this inscription although action should be taken today in any event without awaiting French reaction if not forthcoming in time.3 Foreign Office urgently informing French Ambassador.

Lloyd and Kirkpatrick who was with him did not seem to have any specific thoughts on course Security Council consideration might take nor clear view as to optimum presentation. However both felt ample justification for bringing case under Article 34 particularly with reference to possible request Security Council “investigate”. Clearly believed Soviets could be put on spot by this and at minimum forced to take positions which could be used against them subsequently. At same time noted obvious Soviet defense on grounds Soviet action at request Hungarian government which if not a lawful and representative government at least recognized internationally.

Aldrich
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 764.00/10–2756. Confidential; Niact. Received at 9:09 a.m. Repeated to Paris.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. Dulles called Lodge at 10:05 a.m. and advised him to contact Dixon. He further stated that it was all right for him to consult with the French afterwards. (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations) Telegram 2002 from Paris, October 27, received at 10:39 a.m., reported that the French were prepared to join with the United States and the United Kingdom in presenting a resolution on Hungary to the U.N. Security Council. (Department of State, Central Files, 764.00/10–2756) At 1 p.m. on October 27, Ambassadors Lodge, Dixon, and Cornut-Gentille addressed a letter to the President of the Security Council requesting inclusion of an item entitled “The Situation in Hungary” on the Security Council agenda. (U.N. doc. S/3690) Ambassador Bohlen in Moscow acknowledged the psychological and political difficulties for the Soviet Union from a Western appeal to the Security Council. But he warned that if Nagy were anxious to follow the Polish and Yugoslav examples then such an appeal might drive him closer to the Soviets. However, if Nagy were considered a prisoner of the Soviets then the move in the United Nations could only be an advantage. (Telegram 969 from Moscow, October 27; Department of State, Central Files, 660.61/10–2756)↩