740.0011 European War 1939/11459: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 30—7 p.m.]
607. The fact that Aziz al Masri Pasha and the other political offenders mentioned in my 532, May 19, 4 p.m.,18 still remain at large continues to preoccupy the Egyptian authorities who are said not only to be intensifying their efforts to apprehend these fugitives but also to be taking steps to combat fifth column and general subversive activities which are said to have increased noticeably of late as a result of German successes in Greece, Libya and Crete and the extension of their activity into Syria and Iraq with the consequent internal repercussions. Significant developments along these lines may be seen in the transfer of … and efforts which are being made by the Prime Minister to establish the right of the Government to take legal action against members of Parliament in derogation of their constitutional immunity.
As regards the general question of fifth column activity in Egypt British sources state that although there is a considerable amount of defeatist talk and pro-Axis propaganda emanating from both foreign colony sources and certain elements of the Egyptian population including the Turkish aristocracy and highly placed officials, there is little evidence of the organization of such activity on an important scale, a circumstance which the British are inclined to attribute largely to the effectiveness of measures taken to round up persons regarded as key enemy agents at the time of the entry of Germany and [Page 275] Italy into the war and the subsequent internment of a large number of suspects.
On the other hand while disposed to minimize the importance of this locally conducted propaganda the British stress the considerable effect of radio broadcasts in Arabic from Bari and Berlin, particularly the latter which is admitted to be far more effective than British broadcasts for Near Eastern listeners owing partly to the manner of presentation but more particularly to the fact that Axis propagandists are in a better position to play on local prejudices such as anti-British and anti-Jewish feeling and also have a completely free hand to make the most extravagant promises irrespective of their intention or ability to fulfill them. In this latter connection it is known that it is being strongly urged in certain quarters that the British immediately make a declaration in respect of the national aspirations of the various counties of the Near East with a view to countering Axis propaganda and rallying the countries of the Near East to the cause of the democracies. It is understood, however, that those responsible for directing British Near Eastern policy while favoring such a declaration in principle are opposing its delivery until such time as the British may achieve a military success which would obviate the implication that it was being made under duress. In the meantime the question is being mooted as to whether the same results might not be attained by the delivery in secret of assurances to responsible leaders destined to satisfy the Nationalist aims among the people of this area and in this conception the role of the United States is envisaged as the one country whose ascendency will be unchallenged when the foundations are laid for a durable peace.
In summary it may be said that although there are certain evidences of loosely organized Axis propaganda in Egypt and although recent German successes have tended to accentuate defeatist and fifth column activity and to necessitate the taking of more stringent restrictive measures by the Egyptian Government, the situation here is not regarded as critical for the moment. It is generally believed, however, that the situation might quickly become ominous should subsequent developments make it.
- Not printed.↩