Presidential Papers, Doc#1856 To David Ben Gurion, 30 April 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower

Presidential Papers, Doc#1856 To David Ben Gurion, 30 April 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower

<--PREV
Doc #1855 | Memorial Commission
Home Page | First Term
Table of Contents | Presidential Papers
Home Page |
Doc#
| NEXT-->
Doc #1857

Document #1856; April 30, 1956
To David Ben Gurion
Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Israel

The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVI - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part IX: "Concerning my political intentions"; December 1955 to April 1956
Chapter 19: The goal: A "durable peace"

Dear Mr. Prime Minister: I have delayed replying to your important letter to me of March sixteenth because of the rapid developments that have been taking place, including notably the mission of Secretary-General Hammarskjöld.¹ We are awaiting his report with hope and confidence.
The only reply I can give you at this moment to the chief subject of your letter, the question of the sale of armaments, is a straightforward one. You have presented your case forcefully and eloquently. But there are other factors to which you do not allude, factors affecting the ability of the United States to maintain its influence for peace in the area. We are not persuaded that it would serve the cause of peace and stability in the world for the United States now to accede to your request for arms sales. We continue to weigh the matter carefully in the light of developments, and I may have occasion to communicate with you further.²
With kindest personal regard and best wishes, Sincerely

¹ Ben Gurion had retraced what he thought were the aggressive moves made by Egypt's President Nasser and the subsequent penetration of the Arab world by the Soviets. He told Eisenhower that "only the immediate acquisition by Israel of defensive weapons . . . can deter an Egyptian attack, save Israel from untold sacrifice and damage and the Middle East from a war pregnant with danger to mankind" (State, Foreign Relations, 1955-1957, vol. XV, Arab-Israeli Dispute January 1-July 26, 1956, pp. 372-74). Secretary Dulles had shown Eisenhower the Prime Minister's letter on March 26 and told the President that he did not think it required his immediate attention (Memorandum of Conversation, Mar. 26, 1956, Dulles Papers, White House Memoranda Series). With his suggested reply to Ben Gurion, sent to Eisenhower almost a month later, Dulles explained that he did not think the letter needed to be "very long or detailed" since he had twice discussed the U.S. position with the Israel ambassador, and Eisenhower had recently exchanged letters with Ben Gurion on the Near East situation (Dulles to Eisenhower, Apr. 23, 1956, AWF/I: Israel; see also State, Foreign Relations, 1955-1957, vol. XV, Arab-Israeli Dispute January 1-July 26, 1956, pp. 405-8, 427-29, 445-46, 473-76, 527-28; and Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Hoover, Apr. 23, 1956, AWF/D).
During the intervening period, Israeli and Egyptian forces had clashed in a ten-mile area along the Gaza Strip armistice line, and both sides had begun to reinforce their positions in the area. Continued raids by Egyptian guerrillas into civilian areas near Tel Aviv had escalated the tensions (State, Foreign Relations, 1955-1957, vol. XV, Arab-Israeli Dispute January 1-July 26, 1956, pp. 478-80, 488-96, 501, 523-26; New York Times, Apr. 6, 1956; see also Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Dulles, Apr. 12, 1956, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations). For Eisenhower's statement regarding the hostilities see U.S. Department of State Bulletin 34, no. 878 (April 23, 1956), 668. For background on the Hammarskjöld mission see no. 1830; on arms for Israel, no. 1836; and on Eisenhower's previous correspondence with Ben Gurion, no. 1833.
² For developments see no. 1932.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To David Ben Gurion, 30 April 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1856. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1856.cfm

<--PREV
Doc #1855 | Memorial Commission
Home Page | First Term
Table of Contents | Presidential Papers
Home Page |
Doc#
| NEXT-->
Doc #1857

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission
1629 K Street, NW Suite 801
Washington DC 20006
Phone: 202.296.0004 Fax: 202.296.6464