740.0011 European War 1939/9980: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 16—3:10 a.m.]
265. The Legation’s 264, April 14, 8 p.m.9 The Legation has been informed by an [a British?] Embassy source that in the conference between General Wavell and the Prime Minister this morning the former outlined the situation in the western desert and stated that although the tactics being employed by the enemy were such that small forces might turn up at unexpected places the situation as a whole was well in hand. In reply to the Prime Minister’s question regarding the possible necessity for the use of Egyptian troops General Wavell is said to have stated that Egyptian forces would not be required on the western desert but that their cooperation in maintaining internal security and guarding the Suez Canal would be helpful. This is presumably the agreement submitted in secret session to Parliament mentioned in the Legation’s telegram under reference.
The leading editorial of the paper in question appeals for confidence in Wavell and stresses the points that the RAF10 and the Fleet are the incontestable masters of the air and seas of Libya and that a battle in the real sense of the word has not yet taken place.