865D.01/604: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt ( Kirk ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 17—1:13 p.m.]
95. As a consequence of the British occupation of Cirenaica there is being set up in Cairo an office of the British occupied enemy territory administration which in addition to Cirenaica will have Eritrea under its jurisdiction. It is understood that whereas Eritrea is being governed as a territory under Italian sovereignty but British military occupation, such is not the case in Cirenaica where Eden’s13 separate pledge to the Senussi is regarded as precluding the return of that area to Italy after the war. As far as is known no effort is being made at the present time to determine the permanent status of Cirenaica but it may be significant to note that the administration being set up at the present time is said to be modeled along the lines of the sheikdoms under British protection along the Persian Gulf.
- Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩