<--PREV Doc #39  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #41 Document #40; February 20, 1957 To David Ben Gurion Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Israel ; Category: Cable. Secret The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVIII - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace Part I: A New Beginning, Old Problems; January 1957 to May 1957 Chapter 1: The Mideast and the Eisenhower Doctrine   Dear Mr. Prime Minister:1 I know Ambassador Eban is reporting fully to you the views of the United States Government concerning the withdrawal by Israel behind the Armistice lines in accordance with the pertinent resolutions of the United Nations.2 The views expressed to Ambassador Eban by Secretary Dulles, as well as those set forth in our Aide Memoire of February 11, are fully shared by me.3 These are designed to give our national assurances reenforcing the assurances of the United Nations with reference to the future of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gaza Strip.4 It has been our earnest endeavor, in supporting fully the United Nations in this matter, to explain our attitude and future policies regarding certain future aspects of the problem. This we hoped would encourage you to comply with the resolutions. Acting upon the request of your representatives, and upon the request contained in your letter of February 18 to Secretary Dulles, the United States has supported the postponement of further General Assembly consideration of measures to be taken to achieve implementation of its resolutions on withdrawal.5 I understand now that the Assembly plans to consider this matter again on February 21 and that further postponement is probably impracticable. Thus, in the absence of an immediate and favorable decision by your Government, there can be no assurance that the next decisions soon to be taken by the United Nations will not involve serious implications. It continues to be my earnest hope that you will announce your intention immediately to comply with the withdrawal resolution and, in the words of the public statement which I authorized on February 17, "rely upon the resoluteness of all friends of justice to bring about a state of affairs which will conform to the principles of justice and of international law and serve impartially the proper interests of all in the area."6 I would greatly deplore the necessity of the United States taking positions in the United Nations, and of the United Nations itself having to adopt measures, which might have far-reaching effects upon Israel's relations throughout the world. Our position must, however, conform with the principles for which we have firmly stood in relation to these tragic events. I have been in touch with leaders of the Congress. I plan again to speak tonight to the American people with respect to this matter by radio and television.7 I also feel that at this time I should express again to you the sincere hope that your Government will accede to the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the members of the United Nations.8 Believe me, Mr. Prime Minister, that this message is sent in the spirit of the traditional friendship between our countries,-- a friendship which we zealously seek to preserve and develop.9 Sincerely 1 To speed communication, the minister of the Israeli embassy telephoned the substance of this letter, which had been delivered to him by hand, to the Prime Minister (see Shiloah to Rountree, Feb. 20, 1957, AWF/D-H; see also Telephone message, Arthur Dean, Feb. 20, 1957, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations). 2 For background see no. 19. Abba Eban, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, was also the Permanent Representative at the United Nations. 3 Dulles and Eban had conferred, probably by telephone, on February 18. In an aide-mémoire, the State Department had endorsed the United Nations order of urgency for the withdrawal of Israeli invasion and occupation forces. After the prompt and unconditional withdrawal from Gaza, the statement said, the United Nations Emergency Force would occupy the boundary between Israel and the Gaza Strip to prevent its use as a base for terrorist attacks against Israel. The United States would join other countries in protecting the right of free passage through the Gulf of Aqaba (State, Foreign Relations, 1955 - 1957, vol. XVII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1957, pp. 132 - 34, 202; see also Eisenhower, Waging Peace, pp. 184 - 87; and Draft of text resolution, Feb. 21, 1957, AWF/D-H). 4 Eisenhower added this sentence in the course of a telephone conversation with Secretary Dulles (Feb. 20, 1957, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations). 5 Ben Gurion had asked Secretary Dulles to obtain a postponement of United Nations discussions and to send a committee of representative states to Israel and Egypt to reach a settlement. "Withdrawal under the present circumstances," he wrote, "will spell disaster for us" (State, Foreign Relations, 1955 - 1957, vol. XVII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1957, p. 200). 6 Eisenhower's statement is in Public Papers of the Presidents: Eisenhower, 1957, pp. 144 - 46. 7 See ibid., pp. 147 - 56. 8 In a message on the following day, Ben Gurion would tell Dulles that the Israeli government had "bent all efforts" to reach a position on the points raised by the President, but that there was too little time to reach a decision before the United Nations debate scheduled for February 22. He asked that the United States exert its influence to postpone the discussion until Monday (Feb. 25). Repeating his request for a postponement in his letter to Eisenhower on February 22, Ben Gurion said "it is our most ardent wish to cooperate to the fullest in seeking a solution" (Ben Gurion to Dulles, Feb. 21, 1957, AWF/D-H; and Ben Gurion to Eisenhower, Feb. 22, 1957, AWF/I: Israel; see also Abba Solomon Eban, An Autobiography [New York, 1977], pp. 243 - 48; and Alteras, Eisenhower and Israel, pp. 263 - 73). Eisenhower and Dulles agreed that the message was "bad news." "This stubborn attitude finally gets you down," Eisenhower told the Secretary, who said that "he would have bet odds in favor of their giving in" (Telephone conversation, Feb. 21, 1957, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations). For developments see no. 56. 9 Secretary Dulles had suggested that Eisenhower add this sentence (Telephone conversation, Eisenhower and Dulles, Feb. 20, 1957, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Cable. Secret To David Ben Gurion, 20 February 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 40. 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/second-term/documents/40.cfm <--PREV Doc #39  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #41

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