740.0011 European War 1939/15254: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 20—8:40 a.m.]
1422. My 1410, September 17, 10 p.m. I am confidentially informed that the British Ambassador yesterday furnished the Egyptian Prime Minister at the latter’s request a written statement to the effect that the declaration of Cairo as an open city would be contrary to the successful prosecution of the war. The Ambassador is said to have added that he trusted that the Prime Minister shared this view and would so express himself in any further discussion of the matter in such a way as to make it clear that he was expressing his own opinion rather than merely communicating the British view.
The Ambassador is also understood to have informed the Prime Minister that the matter of bombing Rome in reprisal for the raid on [Page 294] Cairo during the night of September 15–16 had been taken under advisement, but that it was deemed inadvisable to take retaliatory action at this time in the light of certain other considerations affecting the war effort. The Prime Minister is said to have replied that under the circumstances he would not press the matter further. It may be observed that news reports from London appearing in today’s press here give the impression that the bombing of Rome is contemplated.