56. Telegram From the Embassy in Israel to the Department of State1
912. Re Deptel 760.2Ben Gurion received me in bedroom his Tel Aviv residence at 5:30 this afternoon at which time he read President’s letter with great care.3 He did not reply formally or at length but [Page 90] indicated considerable disappointment with letter and especially with United Nations resolutions and General Assembly debate, particulars of which he seemed be informed of. He apparently desired reserve major comment for his formal reply which I expect Tuesday. Nothing he said leads me to believe he weakening in any degree on Tiran Straits or Gaza.
Prime Minister clad in heavy dressing gown sat in chair and rose to meet me. Obviously he not fully recovered from his bout with pneumonia but was vigorous in his speech and firm in his movements.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/2–357. Confidential; Niact; Presidential Handling. Received at 7:29 p.m. A copy is in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File.↩
- Telegram 760 transmitted Eisenhower’s message to Ben Gurion, Document 54.↩
- A memorandum of Lawson’s conversation with Ben Gurion is attached to the copy of telegram 912 in Department of State, Tel Aviv Embassy Files: Lot 65 F 51, 321.9 Israel–Egypt, Jan.–Feb. 15, 1957.↩