Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

883.24/25: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Egypt (Kirk)

Washington, December 24, 1941—8 p.m.

809. Your 1972, December 17 and 1997, December 22.⁵⁷ The Lend-Lease Administrator makes the following reply to your inquiry:

“As you know, the President has found that the defense of Egypt is vital to the defense of the United States. Egypt is therefore eligible to make application for any type of lend-lease aid, which may be rendered either directly to that Government or by way of retransfer from the United Kingdom.

The latter method was followed with respect to 300,000 bags of flour which the President on October 1, 1941 authorized to be distributed in whole or in part by the British in Egypt to the Egyptian civilian population. This has been the only aid extended to the Egyptian people as such up to this time.

In addition, however, very large quantities of defense articles such as planes, guns, tanks and ammunition have been supplied to the British forces in Egypt, which have undoubtedly contributed greatly to the defense of that country.”

Hull

57. Latter not printed.