281. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, November 11, 1957, 6:10 p.m.1
TELEPHONE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT
The Sec. explained the Tunisian situation and the dilemma we were in on small arms to Tunisia. The Sec. said he thought we should go through with it without further delay. The President agreed and said he thought the Secretary should call Alphand in and explain what we planned to do. The Sec. said that Murphy had talked to Alphand earlier. The Sec. discussed how critical the situation was in North Africa and how much was involved there.
The Pres. asked about Macmillan’s stand on the above and the Sec. said the British were in entire agreement with us.
The Pres. and the Sec. agreed that our rifles shipment should come into Tunisia first. The Sec. thought that while the situation would be bad for a while the French would get over it since they needed our help.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Drafted by Mildred Asbjornson in the Secretary’s office.↩