883.7962/7–1244: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt ( Tuck ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 12—5:53 p.m.]
1970. Translation of the aide-mémoire of July 116 on Almaza Airport follows:
The present needs of military aviation have led the British military authorities to envisage the creation of a new airport near Cairo equipped with installations and apparatus appropriate to answer these needs. They have discussed it with the Egyptian Government which was planning at the same time the enlargement of Almaza Airport to meet the needs of civil aviation after the war; but this enlargement encountered current difficulties in procuring the necessary material.
In the desire to harmonize the Egyptian interest in the preparation of the airport for the purpose mentioned with the present needs of military aviation, preliminary talks have taken place on the following basis: The new installations with which the airport will be equipped are divided into two categories:
- (a)
- The first will answer the needs of civil aviation:
- The Egyptian [Government?] will be responsible for necessary expenses in the execution of work in this category; the expected time is set at 18 months. The necessary material for this work will be furnished at a reduced price by the RAF which has graciously agreed to undertake the transport of this material and other facilities.
- (b)
- The second category will answer the needs of military aviation:
- The necessary expenses in the accomplishment of this category will be borne by the RAF. The fixed installations will be transferred to the Egyptian Government without obligation.
- The RAF will be subjected to payment of landing fees for its plans [planes] at the airport and will pay rent for the buildings and installations which shelter them.
It follows from the preceding that the question has not arisen in these discussions as to the methods of using the new installations of the Almaza Airport for civil aviation.
At this time it is appropriate to point out that in a note7 presented to the Department of State Egyptian Government has made it known that it was convinced that it would be invited to participate in all general conferences which might be called to examine questions relative to civil aviation and to international aerial communications after the war. The Egyptian Government wishes to emphasize that in expressing this belief it was inspired by the greatest spirit of international cooperation on the basis of equality of rights.
Furthermore, animated by the same spirit of cooperation and by the excellent relations of friendliness and confidence which so happily exist between Egypt and the great American democracy, the Egyptian Government would be disposed to take up again at an opportune time the examination of this question with the American Government, it being understood that this does not prejudice the question and that from now on all idea of utilization of the airport by non-Egyptian planes on the same basis of equality as Egyptian planes must be dismissed.
The British statement follows:
Discussions are being held with the Egyptian Government regarding the development of facilities at Almaza Airport with a view to the use of the latter by RAF transport aircraft in preference to Cairo West [Airport], which for obvious reasons has proved unsuitable for this purpose.