SUEZ CRISIS,
JULY 26–DECEMBER 31, 1956,
DOCUMENT 580
Message From President Eisenhower to King Saud
Washington, November 16, 1956.
Your Majesty: I was pleased to receive Your Majesty’s two latest messages, through Prince Faisal and the Foreign Office on November 4,2 and through our Ambassador on November 11.3
I am confident that you will continue to support measures such as those referred to in resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly which will restore peace to the area of hostilities. Beyond this, I sincerely hope that you may be able to encourage Egyptian cooperation to achieve solutions for some of the fundamental problems which gave rise to the current crisis.
I deeply appreciate the thanks which you have conveyed for the stand of the United States Government in the recent sessions of the General Assembly dealing with Near Eastern matters. I can assure you that the United States is trying strenuously to bring peace to the area and to work out solutions based on justice and equity for all. We will continue to use our influence to secure compliance with the United Nations resolutions and, thereafter, to encourage actions which will establish lasting peace and stability in the area.
We share with you the concern at the shadow cast, not only over the Near East, but over the whole world, by recent events. Our hearts are made heavy by the shadows cast by the ruthless suppression of the people of Hungary in their quest for freedom. I know that you will share our concern in this, as the events in Hungary may well be indicative of the fate of any who become dominated by the Soviet Union. We would hope that you will see your way clear to support us in our efforts in the United Nations to meet this crisis.
I have read Your Majesty’s suggestion regarding Egypt. I share with you the deep regret at the suffering which may have been caused by these recent events. I am hopeful, however, that, when the United Nations forces enter and General Burns has had an opportunity to assess the situation, we may find that the damage was not as extensive or as great as was, at first, believed. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies in this country and elsewhere are active in the provision of emergency relief.
I am pleased to have these opportunities to exchange views with Your Majesty. I hope that in the months ahead these exchanges may continue, and that perhaps at some stage we will have an opportunity to meet for a general review of problems of common interest.
May God have you in his safe keeping.
Your sincere friend,
Dwight D. Eisenhower4
1 Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/11–1656. Secret. Drafted in the Department of State by Newsom and forwarded to the White House under cover of a memorandum from Hoover to Eisenhower on November 16. It was approved by Goodpaster. (Ibid., 320.5780/11–1656) The message was sent to Dhahran in Priority telegram 179, which is the source text, with the instruction: “Please deliver soonest following message from President to King Saud. Confirm date time delivery.”
2 Not printed. (Transmitted in telegram 233 from Jidda, November 5; ibid., 684A.86/11–1156) In the message Saud expressed special appreciation for the position taken by the United States in the Suez crisis.
3 Not printed. (Transmitted in telegram 214 from Dhahran, November 11; ibid.) In the message Saud expressed appreciation for U.S. efforts to end Israeli-French-U.K. aggression against Egypt, condemned that aggression as a threat to the world, urged the President to work for the implementation of recent U.N. resolutions on the Middle East, and suggested that the United States use its influence to ensure that Egypt was compensated for the material losses suffered as a result of the fighting.
4 Telegram 179 bears this typed signature.
FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1955–1957 VOLUME XVI, SUEZ CRISIS