883.00/1231: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:50 p.m.]
183. My 147, January 26, 9 p.m.5 I am very confidentially informed that the Egyptian Prime Minister advised the British Embassy this afternoon that his position had become so difficult that he had decided to resign either tomorrow or the day after. He is said to have cited as an impelling reason for his decision certain student demonstrations at the ceremony commemorating the death of Mohamed Mahmud6 yesterday in the course of which the Government and the British were reviled and Aly Maher, the King and even General [Page 65] Rommel7 cheered. Similar demonstrations are reported to have occurred today at the university in Cairo and their recrudescence tomorrow is said to be feared. The British Ambassador was out of town for the day and it remains to be seen what influence he will attempt to exert in the matter on his return tonight.