883.812/2–2447
Communiqué Issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs1
The Minister of Foreign Affairs communicates as follows:
Certain newspapers published a United Press notice stating that the International Congress of Maritime Transportation held at London, showed fears lest Egypt might have an intention of nationalizing the Suez Canal Company as soon as the British forces shall have evacuated Egypt. Consequently the Congress is said to have drawn the attention [Page 764] of the governments possessing merchant marines to the vital necessity of seeing that the Canal is open to all states.
On being questioned on this subject, His Excellency the President of the Council of Ministers stated that the Egyptian Government will, in so far as it is concerned, take no step designed to establish obstacles in the way of navigation through the Suez Canal whether after the evacuation of Egypt by British troops or after the termination of the concession of the Canal Company. The Egyptian Government will leave the Canal open to navigation by all powers in conformity with the Convention of 1888, which is still in effect. This Convention guarantees the freedom of such navigation. The Egyptian Government has never ceased respecting the clauses of such treaty.
The Prime Minister concluded:
The Maritime States should be assured from now on as to the Egyptian policy in this regard so that they may be persuaded that there is no justification for the apprehensions expressed in the above mentioned Congress of Maritime Transportation.
- Printed in the French Language Press on February 21, 1947; translation transmitted by the Embassy in Cairo in despatch 2258, February 24.↩