Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, January 1–July 26, 1956, Volume XV

74. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France¹

Washington, February 3, 1956—7:48 p.m.

2819. Paris Tels 3402,² 3432.³ Israeli request for twelve Mystères involves two important considerations: (1) French production now committed to French Air Force under OSP contract; (2) Four members of Ambassadorial Committee including French have agreed suspend action on all Israeli requests for arms for time being.⁴

Re (1), U.S. has informed French Ambassador if France decides to supply Israel with twelve Mysteres it would have no objection if OSP contract were interrupted. Technical details regarding interruption OSP contract will not be telegraphed until French decision ship Mysteres is made. French have not yet decided supply Mysteres.

Re (2), French agreement on suspension of action on Israeli request applies to Mysteres. Ambassadorial Committee plans consider all Israeli requests in week or two.

In light this situation Bendor should be informed decision re Mysteres is entirely in hands of French Gov’t and that Embassy understands French Foreign Ministry plans inform U.S. officials in Washington and Paris when French Gov’t has arrived at decision. Foreign Ministry should be informed of Bendor’s approach and Embassy’s reply.⁵

Re Tel Aviv’s 759⁶ Embassy may wish inform Israeli officials decision re Mysteres rests with French and U.S. understands French have not yet decided.⁷

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/2–156. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins and approved by Rountree who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Tel Aviv, and pouched to London and Rome.
2. The Embassy in Paris reported in telegram 3402, January 31, that an official of the French Ministry of Defense had called at the Embassy on January 27 to state that it was his understanding that the proposed sale of Mysteres to Israel had received favorable consideration in Washington. Embassy officials had replied that this official should “consult [French] FonOff which would undoubtedly be informed.” (Ibid., 784A.56/1–3156)
3. Document 66.
4. See Document 40.
5. See Document 79.
6. See footnote 3, Document 43.
7. The Embassy in Tel Aviv on February 8, responded to the Department’s instructions as follows:

   “Substance last paragraph Department’s 540 to Tel Aviv communicated informally to Foreign Ministry and to office of Prime Minister. GOI had already been approached by French Embassy and informed that US Government had no objection to delivery of Mysteres. GOI officials gave Embassy impression they confident that affirmative French action in this matter would not be long delayed which in line with Sharett’s comment to me. French however have given GOI injunction strict secrecy re Mystere deliveries.” (Telegram 784 from Tel Aviv; Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/2–856)