883.00/187: Telegram
The Agent and Consul General at Cairo ( Gary ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 1, 10.02 a.m.]
567. I am tonight in receipt by military courier of a letter from Special High Commissioner Allenby at Alexandria reading as follows: [Page 205]
“I hasten to communicate to you the substance of two telegrams received from Paris last night addressed by Saad Zaghloul to Mohammed Pasha Suliman [at] Cairo. These telegrams are obviously false and unfortunately have been reproduced in certain native papers both in Cairo and Alexandria. I enclose you a copy in translation of the paragraphs which have been published and according to my information here an untoward impression has been created. In these circumstances, I have recourse to your good offices in the hope that you will be able to communicate an official or semiofficial communiqué to the press denying the accuracy of the statement made by Saad Zaghloul and I would further be grateful if you would kindly notify your Government and ask them to telegraph out an official denial of the statements as made by Saad Zaghloul.”
The translation of the published text of the first [telegram?] in the Cairo Misr referred to by General Allenby reads as follows:
“The Committee for the Council of Senate decided that Egypt is considered neither under Turkey or Great Britain and that it governs itself.”
The text of the second telegram reads as follows:
“Paris, August 29, 6 p.m.
To Mohammed Suliman Pasha Cairo.
We received a telegram from America notifying that the Committee of Foreign Affairs in the American Senate has decided that Egypt politically is neither under Turkey nor Great Britain but is self [governed] and able to look after her own interests.
Signed Saad Zaghloul”
I am writing General Allenby that I may not give either an official or semiofficial statement to the press about this matter but that I am communicating with the Department with the view to obtaining precise instructions. Please cable instructions immediately.