Office of the Historian

133. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and Dr. Roswell Barnes in New York, February 22, 1957, 11:45 a.m.1

Washington, February 22, 1957, 11:45 a.m.

TELEPHONE CALL TO DR. ROSWELL BARNES IN NEW YORK

The Secretary asked Dr. Barnes if he had read the President’s speech on the Middle East situation.2 The Sec. did not know what could be done but said we needed very badly to get some more vocal support from people other than the Jews and those very much influenced by Jews. We were really in an unfortunate position. There was no way in which the Protestant groups would be heard on an issue like this which might be very vitally affecting the future of the United Nations. Dr. Barnes asked if the Sec. had seen the editorial in the New York Times this morning which he said was good. Dr. Barnes said he was hanging around this week end to see what the developments were. He expected they would have a statement released by the President of the World Council of Churches. Their Board was meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Secretary said there ought to be some sermons on Sunday. The Sec. said he had talked to some of the friendly people in Congress. It was impossible to hold the line because we got no support from the Protestant elements of the country. All we get is a battering from the Jews. The Sec. had just talked to Vorys. He was one of the most courageous and strong people. He had just called the Sec. up in a state of despair and was writing to his Bishop to see what could be done.3

The Sec. said the President was having an analysis of the telegrams made which he had received following his speech. Almost 90% of the mail was from Jews. Out of that percentage 10% supported him and 90% were against. The significant thing was that practically all the response was Jewish. There seemed to be no interest in this situation by others.

Barnes said he had been working on priming some comments in some sermons. Barnes asked what the UN was doing. The Secretary said there would be some desultory talk this afternoon but we could stall any major debate until Monday. Sec. said he would probably be talking to Eban tomorrow.

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The Sec, as he had done in the Vorys conversation, reviewed the situation in connection with the Sunday p.m. newscasts and remarked there was no favorable stuff coming in on all the educational programs.

Barnes said he would speak to Blake4 and added that the American Christian Palestine Commission had been very aggressive. Barnes said they had been most effective with more reasonable Jews—in general in line with what the Times took this morning.

The Sec. said if the effort to get Israel out of Egypt failed, it would open the door of force pretty generally. He did not know what the outcome would be. The Sec. said the President had said that what Israel was doing was not much different than what Wilson did in Mexico in 1915. He hoped we had broadened since that time. It remains to be seen whether we have or not. Sec. said he just wanted to give Barnes his concern which was shared by the Pres.

Barnes said some of the Ministers in NY would include something in their Sunday sermons. He doubted if Blake would agree to make a statement before the General Board met in Williamsburg on Tuesday5 unless there was great urgency in the situation. The Sec. said the point was that probably before Tuesday the die would be cast in the UN. Barnes said he would try to persuade Blake to do something.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Asbjornson. Barnes was the Associate General Secretary of the National Council of Churches.↩
  2. Reference is to Eisenhower’s address of February 20; see footnote 4, Document 120.↩
  3. Dulles received a telephone call from Vorys at 11:22 a.m. that morning. According to the memorandum of conversation by Asbjornson, Vorys said in regard to the Israeli withdrawal situation, that “the churches of this country should be laying before the people the principles of international law and morality.” Dulles responded that “he would work on this a little bit more today.”↩
  4. Reference is presumably to Eugene C. Blake, President of the National Council of Churches.↩
  5. February 26.↩