Office of the Historian

88. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President in Thomasville, Georgia, and the Secretary of State in Washington, February 12, 1957, 6:49 p.m.1

Washington, February 12, 1957, 6:49 p.m.

TELEPHONE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT IN THOMASVILLE

The Sec reviewed the FRC proceedings today.

Eban is talking with Murphy now.2 The Sec thinks the general reaction to our business as reported in the press is pretty good and in Congress. Lodge is worried because they are being pressed there to co-sponsor re sanctions. The Sec told him we could not give an answer until we heard further. L feels he is deeply committed to vote for them but the Sec hopes we can avoid it. Congressional pressure against them is rising rapidly. Votes are the only reason. The Sec told of the immense effort being made through mail, advertisements etc. But we have a good case against Israel if they don’t do what we propose.

Lodge said Hammarskjold is thinking re inviting Clay to advise him re setting up an administration in Gaza. The Pres has no objection. He guesses we have to—we are the only Western nation left with any standing at all. He then mentioned he is astonished at the pressure. The Sec said the others don’t make themselves heard. George and Richards are of the opinion a res would go through Congress with virtually no opposition. The Pres said that has no legal effect. It shows how hard it is to carry out foreign policy they don’t approve of. The Pres again expressed his astonishment. They may say we didn’t [protest?] against Egypt when they didn’t let Israeli ships through but if the UN passed one we would have to go along with it. The Sec said if they should resume that, we may sponsor it against Egypt. The res was passed in 1951 and violated and by the time we came into office it had become a dead letter. The Pres said if we get the res through we will have a freer hand and maybe can walk in without waiting for the UN.3

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.↩
  2. See supra.↩
  3. At 8:50 a.m. on February 13, Dulles telephoned Lodge to report on Murphy’s conversation with Eban the previous evening (see supra). According to the memorandum of conversation, “The Sec said the talk was generally encouraging. The implication was they would find our proposal acceptable but don’t know we can take that as definitive. They will probably bargain particularly more re Gaza. The Pres said Clay was o.k. L said he sent word last night the plenary was put off until Thursday. The Sec did not know. L said the Israelis would be very stupid to turn it down. They mentioned the editorials this a.m.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations)↩