259. Despatch From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State1
SUBJECT
- Conversation With President Nasser
Having had an informal notification that President Nasser would like to see me I asked for an appointment and was received by him July 1, at 12:30 P.M. informally in the study of his residence where he apparently had been hard at work on the many dossiers piled on his desk. The following paragraphs summarize the highlights of our conversation.
Cairo Press:
Nasser asked me if I had become accustomed to life in Cairo. I said agreeably so but that it was difficult to become accustomed to the Cairo press to which he observed that his problem was to become accustomed to the American press. He added that he believed I would find, however, that from my point of view the Cairo press was much better now than it had once been.
Development Plans:
Nasser spoke at length about his development plans, particularly in regard to agriculture. He said that the land to be reclaimed by virtue of the High Dam would not barely keep up with the country’s population growth. He laid great store in the potentiality of the New Valley and other areas capable of development. He said his interest in the New Valley had derived from his learning that when Cambyses invaded Egypt it was not good enough for him just to subdue the Nile Valley but he had to advance into the desert and take on the population of the Oases which in those days was far greater than it is today.
[Here follow sections on disarmament, Khrushchev, Japan, Yugoslavia, Greece, Iraq, and Jordan.]
US–UAR Relations:
With respect to UAR’s request for P.L. 480 assistance, I spoke along the lines of Deptel 5123 and 182 and added that in view of the [Page 588] drought in Syria the Embassy was recommending consideration of a larger amount for that region. The President made no comment and did not seem surprised when I said it would take several weeks before a final decision would be reached. He did, however, observe that the new Five-Year Plan was very ambitious, it couldn’t be otherwise, and that they were counting on considerable support from the West. I told him the ball was in the UAR court on four DLF loans.
Nasser said there was no real problem in US–UAR relations other than the problem of Israel which ascended and receded in importance in the light of circumstances. The allegation that the UAR was dependent on the USSR because it received its arms from that quarter was not true. He himself flew in a Russian plane but it was his view that once that plane had reached Egypt it was no longer a Russian but an Egyptian plane. Furthermore the UAR was developing its own capacity in the manufacture of ammunition and spare parts.
Israeli Arms:
Nasser mentioned briefly his concern that Israel was to receive Mirage III aircraft from France. When Okasha was in Paris he had talked to Couve de Murville and had come back with the impression that France would not raise the ante in the UAR/Israeli balance of arms, but it was now clear that he was in error. The Israeli had no doubt convinced the French that the UAR possessed Mig 19s, but this was not the case.
Work and Vacation:
Nasser said that for the last few days he had been working until three or four o’clock every morning on the budget and the Five Year Plan. July would be a very busy month what with the National Union, administration reorganization and other matters to be dealt with. His family had gone to the seashore and he had hoped to join them for the whole month of August, but this would not be possible particularly in view of the visits of Sekou Toure and General Aboud, scheduled for that month.
USS Canberra:
I told the President that the US heavy missile cruiser Canberra was in the course of a good will cruise around the world and would pass through the Suez Canal in August and that we would be delighted to receive on board to visit the ship and make the passage of the Canal any UAR personalities he might designate. He replied he thought he would be interested in having some UAR Naval personnel accept this invitation. I undertook to send him particulars in respect to the vessel and its schedule.
[Page 589]At the conclusion of our conversation which lasted some two hours, the President said he would be glad to receive me again whenever I wished to see him.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786B.11/7–560. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Reinhardt.↩
- Telegram 5123, June 28, authorized Reinhardt to state that P.L. 480 assistance to the UAR was receiving careful consideration. (Ibid., 411.86B41/6–2560) Telegram 18, July 1, reiterated this position but told Reinhardt to point out the U.S. need to follow procedures established to protect third country interests. (Ibid., 411.86B41/6–3060)↩