Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East: Jordan-Yemen, Volume XIII

338. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, November 10, 1956¹

Washington, November 10, 1956

SUBJECT

• Syria

PARTICIPANTS

• Admiral Arthur W. Radford, Department of Defense
• Mr. Gordon Gray, Department of Defense
• Mr. Robert Murphy, Deputy Under Secretary of State

At the end of a meeting on another matter today I had a brief discussion with Mr. Gordon Gray and Admiral Radford regarding problems which might arise in our relations with Syria and the Soviet Union. Admiral Radford took the personal position that the U.S. would have to draw the line somewhere, even though he appreciated the technical right of Syria as an independent country to conclude agreements with the Soviet Union. He spoke in general terms of the need he felt for an action similar to that which this Government took in the case of Taiwan.² He stated the opinion that some form of Congressional resolution would be necessary to put the Soviet Union on notice that there is a line beyond which they cannot go.

There was a general discussion of the cloud of rumors emanating from the area concerning Syria. I took the position that we do not have the facts as yet. I referred to Ambassador Moose’s conversation with President Quwwatly which indicated a trend of thought on the part of the Syrian Government which is unfavorable.³ I referred especially to Quwwatly’s remarks that he was not interested in what happened to Budapest and that he did not care if 50 Budapests were destroyed. The flavor of that conversation would indicate that Syria is disposed to accept assistance from the Soviet Union and may well have concluded agreements relating to military assistance and even to base rights. At the present moment, we do not have these facts. Unless we can obtain a better factual knowledge of the situation in Syria, it would be difficult to propose Congressional action such as the Admiral envisaged.

I also referred to the question regarding the stability of the Syrian Government, with the thought that changes possibly could occur in the political structure which would ease the situation.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 661.83/11–1056. Top Secret. Drafted by Murphy. A note attached to the source text from Kirk to Hoover reads: “Mr. Murphy thought you might be interested in the attached memorandum reporting his conversation with Admiral Radford and Assistant Secretary Gordon Gray on the current situation in Syria.”

   Dulles had entered Walter Reed Hospital on November 3 for surgery and remained on leave from the Department of State until early December.

2. Reference is to the Joint Congressional Resolution of January 29, 1955, which authorized the President to use U.S. forces in defense of Formosa and the Pescadores. For text, see vol. II, pp. 162–163.
3. See supra.