Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Near East and Africa, Volume VII

124.83/9–446: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Egypt (Tuck)

secret

Washington, September 5, 1946—6 p.m.

1510. Brit Emb Washington assured us end July that London would have no objection to our raising question at this time with Egypt of elevating AmLeg Cairo to Embassy. We were also assured that Brit would not insist on retention special precedence for Brit Amb if approached by Egyptian Govt. Consequently Dept is unable comprehend Bowker’s position urtel 1498 Sept. 4.¹⁹ If you perceive no objection please urge upon him that his view is at variance with understanding London and Washington adding that we deem it essential that exchange Egyptian and American Ambassadors and elimination special precedence proceed forthwith regardless present state Anglo Egyptian treaty negotiations.

You may also inform Egyptian FonOff that we are sending request for Hassan’s²⁰ new agrément to President but will withhold actual recognition until simultaneous announcement can be made in Cairo and Washington following assurance by Egyptian Govt that our Amb will be on footing of complete equality.

Sent to Cairo, rptd to London.

Clayton

[Mr. Bowker informed the Chargé in Egypt on September 14, 1946, of receipt of instructions from the British Foreign Office giving unconditional assent to the proposition that the appointed American Ambassador to Egypt should have vis-à-vis the British Ambassador the usual diplomatic precedence based on seniority. Mr. Bowker advised that the British Ambassador would give oral assurances on this matter to the Egyptian Government. The renunciation of precedence given to the British Ambassador was to be applicable only to the American Ambassador since the United States Government alone had raised the issue (telegram 1552, September 14, 1 p.m., from Cairo, 124.83/9–1446).

In note 249 B, September 15, 1946, the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs gave his Government’s assent to the raising of the American diplomatic mission in Egypt to the status of Embassy and the agrément of the King of Egypt to the nomination of Mr. Tuck to the rank of Ambassador (despatch 1874, September 20, from Cairo, 124.83/9–2046).

For statements made by the Department on the agreement of the Governments of the United States and Egypt to exchange Ambassadors and on the presentation of credentials by the newly appointed Ambassador of Egypt to President Truman on October 10, see Department of State Bulletin, October 20, 1946, page 727.]

19. Not printed; it stated that Reginald J. Bowker, Counselor of the British Embassy in Egypt, had informed Mr. Tuck “that British no longer insisted on diplomatic primacy in Egypt. However, he suggested that question of timely change in status possesses some importance and recommended that definitive action be deferred until conclusion of current Anglo-Egyption Treaty negotiations since new treaty would automatically terminate 1936 Treaty and annex whereby British Ambassador to Egypt received precedence over all other diplomatic representatives accredited to this country.” (124.83/9–446) For documentation on the interest of the United States in the negotiations between the United Kingdom and Egypt for revision of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of August 26, 1936, see pp. 69 ff.
20. Mahmoud Hassan, the Egyptian Minister.