Office of the Historian

249. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic1

Washington, November 19, 1959—7:31 p.m.

2095. For Ambassador. Embtel 1533.2 In your discretion, and if in your judgment message can be conveyed without becoming public knowledge, you authorized inform Nasser in manner you deem appropriate that President himself remarked that he really would have liked very much to have seen President Nasser on this trip but that he was just unable to arrange it within the space and time that was available.

If you so inform Nasser, you may add that, for reasons with which we presume Nasser would concur, visit to one Near Eastern country would inevitably require visits to a number of other countries in that area and adequate time was unfortunately not available. You may [Page 564] wish to take occasion to express President’s personal satisfaction with steady progress which has been achieved in normalization of US–UAR relations.

If specific question President’s visit with Bourguiba arises, you may wish offer observation that meeting off Tunis represents only slight detour on sea voyage Athens–Toulon which being made for purpose relaxation between portions President’s strenuous trip.3

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/11–1459. Secret. Drafted by Brewer, Meyer, and Stookey; approved in draft by Goodpaster; cleared with Hart; and signed by Herter. On November 18, the Department of State sent a memorandum to the White House outlining Hare’s concern and suggesting that an enclosed draft telegram be approved by the President. (Eisenhower Library, White House Office, International Series) The telegram as drafted contained only two paragraphs and the President added that he “really would have liked very much to have seen President Nasser.”↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. No reply from Hare to this telegram has been found.↩