Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-09
u. S.-lsroeIi Messages
On Troops in Egypt

The teTt OF an exchange
Eisenhower and Prime Ministe
The President yesterday, No
vember Z. sent the following
message to Prime Minister Ben
Gurion of Israel:
Dear Mr.. Prime Minister:
AS you know, the General As
sembly of the United Nations
has arranged a cease-flre in
Egypt to which Egypt. France.
the United Kingdom and Israel
have agreed. There is being dis
patched to Egypt a United Ma
lions force in accordance with
pertinent resolutions of the Gen.
eral Assembly. That body has
urged that all other foreign
forces be withdrawn from Egyp-
tan territory, and specifically.
that Israeli forces be withdrawn
to the general armistice line.
The resolution covering the
cease-fire and withdrawal was
introduced by the United States
and received the overwhelming
vote Of the Assembly.
Statements attributed to your
government to the effect that
Israel does not intend to with
draw from Egyptian territory. as
requested by the United Nations,
have been called to my atten-
ton. must say frankly, Mr..
Prime Minister, that the United
States views these reports, If
true, with deep concern. Any
such decision by the government
of Israel would seriously under
mine the urgent efforts being
made by the United Nations to
restore peace in the Middle East,
and could not but bring about
the condemnation of Israel as a
violator of the principles as well
as the directives of the United
Nations.
1t is our belief that as a matter
of highest priority peace should
be restored and foreign troops,
except for United Nations forces,
withdrawn from Egypt. after
which new and energetic steps
should be undertaken within the
framework of the United Nations
to solve the basic problems which
have given rise to the present
difficulty. The United States has
tabled in. the General Assembly
two resolutions designed to ac-
complish the latter purposes, and
hopes that they will be acted
upon favorably as soon as the
present emergency has been dealt
with.
need not assure you Of the
deep interest which the United
States has in your country, nor
recall the various elements of
our policy Of support to Israel
In so many ways. It Is in this
context that ! urge you to COM
ply with the resolutions of the
United Nations General Assem-
bly, dealing with the current
crisis and to make your decision
known Immediately. It would
be a matter Of the greatest re-
greet to all my countrymen III
Israeli policy on a matter Of
such grave concern to the world
should in any way impair the
friendly cooperation between
our two countries.
With best wishes.
Sincerely,
ISL Dwight d. Eisenhower. Y
The President tonight received
the following message from Ben
Gurion:
Dear Mr.. President:
have only this afternoonl
received your message which wasI
delayed in transmission owing toI
q breakdown in communications
between the Department Of State
and the United States Embassy
in Tel Aviv.
Your statement that a United
Nations force is being dispatched
to Egypt in accordance with per-
tinent resolutions of the General
Assembly is welcomed by us. Wei
have never planned to annex the
Sinai Desert. In view Of theI
United Nations resolutions re-
garding the withdrawal of for
eign troops from Egypt and the
creation Of an international
force. We will, upon conclusionI
of satisfactory ARRANGEMENTS
with the United Nations in con-
nection with this international
force entering the Suez Canal
area. willingly withdraw our
forces.
Although an important part
Of our aim has been achieved by
the destruction, as a result oil
the Sinai operation, of Fedayeen
gangs and Of the bases from
which they were planned and
directed, we must repeat our ur-
gent request to the United Ma
tons to call upon Egypt, which
has consistently maintained
that it is in a state Of war with
Israel. TO renounce this position,
to abandon its policy of boycott
and blockade, to cease the in
cursions into Israel territory Of
murder gangs and, in accord
ance with its obligations under
the United Nations Charter, to
live at peace with member states,
to enter into direct peace ne
gotiations with Israel.
On behalf Of my government
zl