Office of the Historian

101. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1

Paris, February 18, 1956—1 p.m.

3739. Re Deptel 2965.2 We informed Foreign Office today contents reference telegram and verified that Embtel 35093 clearly reflected Foreign Office views re desire that MDAP contract be extended immediately so 12 Mysteres could be made available to French for delivery Israel.

Foreign Office read to Embassy officer its telegram February 7 containing instructions to French Ambassador Washington to inform Department that political decision to deliver Mysteres to Israel had been taken and to request Department to issue instructions technical level to make plans available soon as possible… .

. . . . . . .

Foreign Office, though realizing delivery Mysteres could probably not be kept from press, asked Department continue handle matter discreetly despite appearance of article in Combat for February 11–12, which reads in part: “Also, authorized American spokesmen refused to comment Thursday on certain information appearing in the press according to which United States reportedly gave its agreement to delivery by French to Israel of dozen Mystere fighters envisaged by long-standing contract. This is decision, it was observed in competent circles, in which France is sole judge.”

Dillon
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/2–1856. Secret. Received at 1:27 p.m. Repeated to Tel Aviv and London.↩
  2. Document 95.↩
  3. Document 79.↩