740.0011 European War 1939/15216: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 19—9:55 a.m.]
1410. My 1312, September 9, 5 p.m. I am confidentially informed that the air raid on Cairo during the night of September 15–16 has given rise to increased agitation for the declaration of Cairo as an open city and that this matter was again taken up by the Prime Minister with the British Ambassador yesterday. When the latter expressed himself as opposed to such a declaration the Prime Minister is said to have requested a formal statement of the views of the British Government in the matter and it is believed that, should it be decided to furnish such a statement, it will probably follow the lines of the memorandum recently submitted by the Embassy to the Prime Minister of which the contents were summarized in my telegram under reference.
In discussing this general question with the Foreign Minister32a this morning he told me that in a recent off the record discussion with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he had expressed the opinion that it would be inexpedient to declare Cairo be [an?] open city because of its being the transportation and communication center of the country but that a good case could be made for attempting to obtain recognition of Cairo as a holy city. I may add in this connection, although the Foreign Minister did not so inform me, that the Egyptian Government is said to have recently approached certain Near Eastern countries including Turkey and Saudi Arabia with the suggestion that they urge upon the German Government the taking of appropriate measures for immunizing Cairo from bombing. Similar overtures are said to have been made through the Swedish Government which is in charge of German interests in Egypt.
It may be further noted in this respect that the local press is said to have been requested by the censorship authorities to refrain from sensational display or treatment of news of the recent raid and that it has also been intimated to correspondents that reference to possible retaliatory bombing of Rome would be inopportune since this is a matter of high policy depending for decision on London. On the other hand it is understood that the press is being encouraged to use this event as a means of stimulating greater public interest in air raid precaution measures.
- Salib Samy.↩