Transcript of Conversation Between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Prime Minister Anthony Eden Regarding Cease-Fire during Suez Crisis

12:55 Noon, November 6, 1956. The President called the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The President: This is a very clear connection. Eden: I can just hear you. The President: First of all, I can't tell you how pleased we are that you found it possible to accept the cease-fire, having landed. Eden: We have taken a certain risk, but I think it is justified. The President: Anthony, this is the way I feel about it. I have not ruminated over this particular situation at length. I am talking off the top of my head. You have got what you said you were going to get in that you have landed. It seems to me that from wh at -- with regard to the cease- fire, and without going into any negotiations, I would go ahead with the cease-fire, not putting any conditions into the acceptance of the resolution and after cease fire talking about the clearing of the Canal and so on. INTERNATIONAL Eden: We are going to cease firing tonight. ANIST The President: Could you not tell Hammarskjold that as far as the cease- fire arrangement is concerned, that that goes without condition. Eden: We cease firing tonight at midnight provided we are not attacked. The President: I see. Eden: What you may call the long cease fire, the cessation of hostilities, that is more complicated. The President: Yes it is more complicated. Talking about the technical troops of yours. Eden: They will cooperate with us in having a cease-fire tonight. The President: If I may make a suggestion, I would offer them to Hammarskjold -- but I would not insist that he take them. Eden: It is always a bit of working out with the allies and everybody else to get this thing -- with some difficulty. The President: The Point I want you to have in your mind is that the cease- fire tonight has nothing to do with technical troops. You cease anyway.