740.0011 European War 1939/14922: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 10—9:55 p.m.]
1312. My 877, July 3, 9 p.m. [7 p.m.] The Legation is confidentially advised by a British Embassy source that the British authorities here are somewhat concerned by a recent recrudescence of underground agitation for the declaration of Cairo as an open city and that the British Ambassador has drawn up a memorandum for submission to the Egyptian Prime Minister in which the following arguments are adduced for not making such a declaration:
- 1.
- Past experience demonstrates that German policy is based entirely on expediency and that the Germans only observe agreements as long as it is in their interest to do so.
- 2.
- Cairo is the nerve center of Egypt particularly from the standpoint of communications and the withdrawal of British headquarters therefrom would seriously impede the war effort.
- 3.
- Even though the British military personnel now in Cairo were withdrawn there would still remain numerous installations such as telephone and telegraph centrals and railway facilities which although non-military in character would constitute legitimate military objectives.
- 4.
- Precedent in the Canal Zone and in Alexandria reveals that Axis air attacks are often made in areas where no military objectives exist in order to terrify the population and disrupt normal life.
- 5.
- Agitation for declaring Cairo an open city diverts attention from the necessity of taking adequate air raid precaution measures.
- 6.
- Agitation of this type constitutes an ideal opening for Axis propaganda designed to stir up trouble between the British and the Egyptians.
In reporting the foregoing, I may add that leaving aside the question of the safety of the inhabitants of Cairo and the propaganda effect of the open city issue, the view is held in certain circles, including some British military, that from the standpoint of military efficiency it was an initial mistake to establish British headquarters in Cairo and that even at this late date its transfer would be desirable.
It may be noted in this connection that an air alarm in Rome during the night of September 6–7 is reported in today’s local press in such a way as to suggest a connection between that event and the recent bombing of a suburb of Cairo (see Legation’s 1285, September 4, 5 p.m.32) and reference was made to the warning said to have been given the Axis at the beginning of the Greek campaign that if Athens or Cairo were attacked Rome would be bombed.
- Not printed.↩