Office of the Historian

7. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1

Paris, January 5, 1956—4 p.m.

3074. Reference Embtel 30732 (repeated other posts). Counselor Israeli Embassy Bendor called today to ask status French Ministry Defense request to Embassy re technical feasibility rerouting 12 MDAP/OSP Mysteres IV–A to Israel.

Bendor stated Quai d’Orsay had agreed to delivery 12 MDAP Mysteres to Israel provided US Embassy concurred such operation [Page 12] was technically feasible. Quai d’Orsay reportedly told Israeli Embassy that economic section Ministry Defense had approached OSP personnel our Embassy with problem and were still awaiting reply. Though Bendor realized he would not intervene officially in matter involving US and France, Israel nevertheless hoped US could reach favorable decision soonest. Bendor added that, if delivery planes judged technically feasible by US, Quai d’Orsay had promised immediate delivery without reference to “committee of 3, 4 or 5 members Washington who consult on arms deliveries to NE”.

We informed Bendor that Embassy could not differentiate between technical and political aspects involved in rerouting 12 MDAP planes and matter had been referred to Department. If Israelis wished to intervene, such intervention would be more appropriate in Washington.

He did not make reference to US decision to suspend all arms shipments to Israel pending Security Council deliberation on Lake Tiberias incident.

Joyce
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/1–556. Secret. Received at 3:53 p.m. Repeated to Tel Aviv, London, and Rome.↩
  2. Supra.↩