740.0011 European War 1939/23492
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Murray)1
Joint Declaration of July 3, 1942, by Germany and Italy With Respect to Egypt
Germany and Italy issued a joint declaration in regard to Egypt on July 3, as follows:
“When their armed forces are advancing on Egyptian territory, the Axis powers solemnly assert their firm intention to respect and safeguard the independence and sovereignty of Egypt. When entering Egypt, Axis forces did not regard it as enemy territory but had the intention of driving out the English from Egyptian territory and of continuing military operations against England which aim at liberating the Near East from British domination. The policy of the Axis powers is guided by the principle ‘Egypt for the Egyptians’. Freed from the chains which bind it to Great Britain and which have made it suffer the consequences of war, Egypt is destined to take her place among the independent and sovereign nations.”
In a telegram dated July 7,2 Mr. Kirk3 reports that the statement has not been issued in the local press due to a censorship stop, and that the British appear to be more concerned with its effect in other Arab areas than in Egypt itself. However, an Egyptian source of information considers that the Egyptian reaction is more important and widespread than the British realize. The Egyptians are also wrought up over Axis broadcasts to the effect they will be likely to suffer from Axis air raids on British military targets in Egypt, and warning them of British scorched earth tactics on withdrawal. The Axis is also saying that the British are using pressure to effect the transfer of the King and the Government elsewhere, and is expressing confidence in an Axis victory.
[Page 25]This propaganda, taken together, has impressed the Egyptian public, which has largely lost confidence in British military capacity. The attitude of the Egyptians is due to fear for their lives and property and to the fact that they consider the British responsible for Egypt’s present plight. As a result, there is an undercurrent of restlessness and if further British military reverses occur the Egyptian Government may find the situation difficult to control.