The Israeli Invasion of Sinai and the Anglo-French Ultimatum, October 29–30


406. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 29, 1956

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2956. Confidential. Drafted by Wilkins on October 31.


407. Memorandum From the Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wentworth) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Radford)

Source: JCS Records, OCJCS 091 Palestine (Jun 56–Dec 56). Top Secret.


408. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2956. Secret; Priority. Received at 4:51 p.m. Repeated to Amman, Damascus, Beirut, and Tel Aviv.


409. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 29, 1956, 4:50 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2956. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins on October 31. The time of the meeting is from Dulles’ Appointment Book. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers)


410. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 29, 1956

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2956. Secret. Drafted by Rockwell on October 30.


411. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, October 29, 1956, 7:15 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster.


412. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, October 29, 1956, 8:15 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster.


414. Message From Prime Minister Ben Gurion to President Eisenhower

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. The source text is a copy of the original letter signed by Ben Gurion which the Embassy in Tel Aviv sent in despatch 244, October 29. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2956) It was received in the Department of State on November 12 and forwarded to the White House on November 14.

The text of the letter was also transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 439, October 30. (Ibid., 684A.86/10–3056) The copy in the Eisenhower Library was initialed by President Eisenhower. (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File)


415. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Certain Specified and Unified Commanders

Source: JCS Records, CCS 381 EMMEA (11–19–47) Sec 47 RB. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Noforn. The source text indicates that the message originated with Radford.


416. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/10–3056. Top Secret; Niact. Received at 8:59 a.m. Repeated to Paris.


417. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–3056. Secret; Niact. Received at 8:59 a.m. Repeated Niact to USUN and to London.


418. Message From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Eden

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–3056. Top Secret. Transmitted in Niact telegram 3081 to London, October 30, 10:50 a.m., which is the source text, with the instruction: “Please deliver immediately following message from the President to Eden. Confirm time delivery.’ Upon receipt of telegram 3081 at 4:30 p.m. London time, Aldrich telephoned Eden and learned that he was already speaking before the House of Commons. He arranged for the immediate delivery of this message to Eden at Commons. (Ibid.)


419. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, October 30, 1956, 10:06–10:55 a.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster. The time of the meeting is from the record of the President’s Daily Appointments. (Ibid.)


421. Message From Prime Minister Eden to President Eisenhower

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Top Secret. Delivered to the White House under cover of a note from Coulson to President Eisenhower which reads: “The Prime Minister has asked me to send you the enclosed message.”


422. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–3056. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Received at 10:40 a.m. Repeated Niact to London.


423. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A./86/10–3056. Secret; Priority; Limited Distribution. Received at 4:39 p.m.


424. Message From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Eden

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–3056. Top Secret. Transmitted to London in Niact telegram 3083, October 30, 12:09 p.m., which is the source text, with the instruction: “Following message from the President for immediate delivery to Eden. Confirm time of delivery.” Aldrich received the message at 5:35 p.m. London time, and immediately forwarded it to Eden at the House of Commons. (Telegram 2363 from London, October 30; ibid.)

This message was sent from the White House to the Department of State under cover of a note from Eisenhower to Dulles which reads: “In view of the fact that one motivation of my earlier cable to Anthony was my astonishment that he should avoid giving us any needed information, I have put together the attached, which I request that you send off to him. If you should see any reason for revision, won’t you please give me a ring?” The original of this note, initialed by Eisenhower, is in the Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Misc. papers—U.K. (Suez Crisis). A copy, ibid., Whitman File, Dulles–Herter Series, bears the marginal inscription: “sent 11:35”.


425. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and Senator Walter F. George, Washington, October 30, 1956, 12:48 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.


426. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and Senator William F. Knowland in California, October 30, 1956, 1:02 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.


427. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, October 30, 1956, 2:17 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Prepared in the Office of the President. Another memorandum of this conversation, transcribed by Bernau in Dulles’ office, is ibid., Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations.


428. Memorandum From the Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wentworth) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Radford)

Source: JCS Records, OCJCS 091 Palestine (Jun 56–Dec 56). Top Secret.


429. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Dulles in Washington and External Affairs Secretary Pearson in Ottawa, October 30, 1956, 3 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau.


430. Message From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Eden and Prime Minister Mollet

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Misc. Papers—U.K. (Suez Crisis). A note on the source text indicates that at 3:30 p.m., “Identical messages delivered by phone to Paris and London Embassies for Immediate telephonic delivery to Eden and Mollet.”


431. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 30, 1956, 3:28 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–3056. Confidential. Drafted by Elbrick. The time of the meeting is from Dulles’ Appointment Book. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers)


432. Message From Prime Minister Mollet to President Eisenhower

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. The source text is an official translation of the letter which Alphand handed to Dulles during their conversation which began at 3:28 p.m.; see supra. A covering note from Howe to Whitman, dated November 1, attached to the source text, indicates that the original of the letter from Mollet and an informal translation of it was transmitted to the White House on October 31.


433. Memorandum of Telephone Conversations Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, October 30, 1956, 3:40 and 3:50 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Bernau. Another memorandum of this conversation, prepared in the Office of the President is ibid., Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. It incorrectly indicates that this conversation began at 5:24 p.m.


434. Message From Prime Minister Eden to President Eisenhower

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File. Top Secret. Delivered to the White House under cover of a note from Coulson to President Eisenhower which reads: “The Prime Minister has asked me to send you the enclosed message.”


435. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, October 30, 1956, 4:25 p.m.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on October 31. The time of the meeting is from the record of the President’s Daily Appointments. (Ibid.)