867N.01/8–1044: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 10—10:37 a.m.]
2363. Last night at Senate’s closing session Prime Minister Nahas in reply to a formal question by Senator Abdel Meguid Ibrahim Saleh Pasha made an important pronouncement on Egypt’s attitude toward Palestine question with special reference to electoral platforms of Republican and Democratic Parties.
Senator asked, “What action has the Government taken by diplomatic and other means respecting programs of political leaders in democratic USA which advocate ceding Palestine to Jews as national home when for 13 centuries that country has been an Arab patrimony?”
Prime Minister’s answer postponed several days by conferences in Alexandria stressed special interest he had always taken in Arabs of Palestine and his solicitude in defending their interests. Declared he had been increasingly aware of unfavorable public opinion manifesting itself in United States and had neglected no opportunity to protest to American Government.
Nahas then proceeded to enumerate his successive démarches.
[Page 609]- (1)
- In January 1943 directed Egyptian Legation to transmit to State Department his memorandum defending Arabs of Palestine and stressing unfortunate effects of Zionist propaganda on Egypt and Middle East.
- (2)
- In March 1943 transmitted not [note] to Department urging maintenance of status quo respecting immigration into Palestine urging that persecuted European Jews emigrate to other areas capable of absorbing them.
- (3)
- In February 1944 pointed out that congressional resolutions advocating termination of White Paper were flagrantly incompatible with principles of Atlantic Charter submitting memorandum to this effect through Egyptian Legation Washington and also stressing unfortunate repercussions in Egypt of such measures.
- (4)
- In March 1944 transmitted a similar message to United States Government on behalf of Imam of Yemen.
- (5)
- Later at time of officially sponsored Silver-Wise statements exchanged views with American Minister here.
- Declared that these various protests had had in some measure favorable results in that White Paper still applied and American Government had given assurances that no decision affecting Palestine would be reached without full consultation of Jews and Arabs.
Regarding declarations of Republican and Democratic Parties Nahas continued:
“There is no doubt that they are of the utmost importance and gravity for they indicate that American politicians have agreed that Palestine shall be torn from its rightful Arab owners who have been settled there for several centuries in order to offer it as bait to the Jews. What is particularly regrettable is that this tends to shake the confidence of the Arab peoples and of other small nations in the promises made by the United Nations and particularly the United States concerning the rights of peoples and the triumph of justice.
However we are not dealing with an act of government but with an electoral campaign and international law does not permit in such cases the official exchange of views by governments. That is why although Mustapha Nahas, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, has not been able to take official action in this regard he has nevertheless not failed to protest strongly to the two American political parties as president of the Wafd Party and leader of the Egyptian people.”
Senator thereupon thanked Prime Minister for his enlightening address declaring that humanitarian public opinion was appalled to see the leading politicians of a great democracy making statements at variance with former promises and with that country’s declared principles which for the past 4 years have given hope to all peoples who aspire to liberty and independence.