Office of the Historian

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

Paris, September 3, 1956—2 p.m.

1054. Eyes only Chief of Mission. Reference: Embtel 1050; repeated London 157, Cairo 31, Rome 62, Amman 5, Baghdad 1, Damascus 6, Jidda 1, Beirut 11, Tel Aviv 15.2 Joxe and Daridan informed us this morning that they had presented our views on Suez developments to Pineau and that he had endorsed comments which Daridan had made to us yesterday.

They repeated evacuation their nationals from Egypt, Jordan and elsewhere is not designed to exacerbate situation, but insisted that, while French Government has given no orders for evacuation, it could not fail under circumstances to issue timely and serious warning.

Comment: We do not believe French are disposed to alter their policy on evacuation though they may proceed a little more slowly than they would have done had we not raised question.

Concerning basic issue, Joxe and Daridan reaffirmed (1) French wish to facilitate and in no way to jeopardize work of committee of 5; (2) French desire to avoid military action; (3) French determination that Nasser shall accept international administration of canal and shall not even appear to emerge triumphant from present crisis.

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Joxe was not optimistic that Nasser in discussions with committee of 5 would accept solution which would be satisfactory to French and British.

Comment: While this conversation revealed no avowed shift in French line, we had definite impression our démarche had been taken very seriously and that henceforth French may proceed with more caution. However, it will be extremely difficult for them to back away from unyielding position which French leaders have repeatedly taken in public statements and which press continues to reflect with undiminished fervor.

Dillon
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/9–356. Top Secret; Priority. Received at 11:37 a.m. Repeated Priority to London, Cairo, Rome, Amman, Baghdad, Damascus, Jidda, Beirut, and Tel Aviv. A copy in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles–Herter Series is initialed by Eisenhower.↩
  2. Document 162.↩