272. Telegram From the Delegation at the United Nations to the Department of State1
New
York, August 14,
1958—7 p.m.
Secto 7. Following based on uncleared memo conversation.2
In talk between Secretary and Lloyd which took place noon Aug. 14, there was general discussion Jordan situation including:
- 1.
- UK referred to request that US ship be made available carry supplies from Cyprus to British forces Aqaba via Suez Canal. Secretary stated only way in which we could do this would be through use MSP which would have be made known to Congress. We did not wish proceed along these lines, but had no objection UK endeavoring charter US ship for this purpose. British agreed.
- 2.
- Secretary referred UK requests that US send standby instructions to Embassy Tel Aviv strongly supporting a UK request for extensive use Israel airspace by RAF. Instructions could be activated in event there army revolt in HKJ and British forced undertake total evacuation under fire. Secretary doubted wisdom sending contingency instructions this kind which would risk spreading of rumors that evacuation impending. If such emergency actually developed we could then discuss how best US could support UK. British accepted.
- 3.
- British pressed hard for US affirmative response to HKJ request finance two new brigades. Rountree explained we had postponed this decision pending conclusion present UNGA since at this juncture we not sure this type support would be feasible or helpful to HKJ. Secretary said he would consider matter further before coming to decision.
Dulles
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.00/8–1458. Secret; Priority. Repeated to London.↩
- This telegram summarizes three separate memoranda of conversation dealing with Dulles’ discussions with Lloyd on August 14. (Ibid., Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 1087; included in the microfiche supplement)↩