<--PREV Doc #53  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #55 Document #54; February 28, 1957 To ibn Abd al-Aziz Saud Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Saudi Arabia ; 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   Your Majesty:1 As Your Majesty knows, we have continued since your departure from Washington to exert every effort to achieve the withdrawal of Israel behind the Armistice line.2 As I informed you, and as I reaffirmed in my address to the Nation on February 20, we have been prepared to support the United Nations in bringing pressure upon Israel to withdraw.3 At the same time we have endeavored to persuade the Israeli Government that it should avoid the necessity of such United Nations action by deciding itself to comply with the resolutions. We have had in mind that even with a United Nations resolution imposing sanctions, the withdrawal might be long delayed. In this connection, you will recall that the United States made public on February 20 its Aide Memoire of February 11 setting forth its attitude concerning various aspects of the matter in the hope that Israel would, without receiving gains from her invasion, proceed with this withdrawal.4 I am pleased that Israel has stated today its intention to announce to the General Assembly tomorrow that it will withdraw immediately.5 As we understand it, the withdrawal will be unconditional and Israel will state that the decision was made on certain assumptions and expectations. These we understand, relate to the role of the United Nations in the Sharm el Shaikh and Gaza areas in accordance with pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly and reports of the Secretary General. We also understand that Israel will state its inherent right under Article 51 of the Charter to protect its interests with respect to incursions from Gaza and armed interference with the international use of the Straits. I am asking the Secretary of State to pass on to Your Majesty further information as the situation unfolds, as I want you to be fully informed concerning developments and our attitude regarding them. I want to reassure you that our position is as Secretary Dulles and I described it to you, and as the United States government has stated publicly. We continue to be disturbed by reports from the Middle East which indicate some misunderstanding of our attitude. We are making every effort to make the truth known and hope Your Majesty will continue your own efforts in this direction. I am hopeful that, after long delays since the military operation against Egypt began, the continued occupation by Israel of territory beyond the Armistice line will now be ended. It will of course be incumbent upon all of us then to work towards solutions of other difficult problems. May I take this opportunity to express to Your Majesty my sincere appreciation for the position which you took at the Cairo conference, as you kindly explained to the American Ambassador.6 It is indeed gratifying that our common interests are so well understood by Your Majesty and that this understanding manifests itself in your relationship with the other Arab states. With kindest personal regards and great respect,7 Sincerely 1 The State Department drafted this letter for the President. Secretary Dulles asked Eisenhower for the authority "to send it as soon as the situation firms up, with such minor modifications as intervening events make appropriate" (Dulles to Eisenhower, Feb. 28, 1957, AWF/I: Saudi Arabia; see also State, Foreign Relations, 1955 - 1957, vol. XVII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1957, p. 310). 2 For background on King Saud's visit see no. 13; on the Israeli withdrawal see no. 40. 3 Eisenhower had written to King Saud on February 14 (see no. 37). His address is in Public Papers of the Presidents: Eisenhower, 1957, pp. 147 - 56. 4 On the aide-mémoire see no. 40. 5 Prior to a meeting in Secretary Dulles's office, Ambassador Abba Eban had announced that the Israeli delegation would make the statement. Eban reviewed the text of the Israeli declaration with Dulles and other State Department officials, who made a number of modifications and corrections, including a clarification of the United Nations Emergency Force's function (State, Foreign Relations, 1955 - 1957, vol. XVII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1957, pp. 311 - 17; see also Telephone conversation, Dulles and Lodge, Feb. 28, 1957, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations). 6 At a conference of the leaders of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, King Saud had reported that during his recent talks with President Eisenhower and Administration officials he had found the United States more tolerant of neutralism and more willing to concede that there were two sides to the Arab-Israeli dispute than he had previously believed (New York Times, Feb. 26, 1957). Raymond Arthur Hare had been U.S. Ambassador to Egypt since September 1956. 7 The President added the preceding three words to the original draft (Whitman to Bernau, Feb. 28, 1957, AWF/I: Saudi Arabia). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Cable. Secret To ibn Abd al-Aziz Saud, 28 February 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 54. 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/54.cfm <--PREV Doc #53  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #55

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