Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

741.83/3–1247: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State

London, March 12, 1947.

1578. Following is substance statement re Egypt made in Commons March 11 by Prime Minister.¹

1. Nokrashy’s statement² re Anglo-Egyptian negotiations stated that final breakoff might be attributed only to Egypt’s inability obtain satisfaction on following two essential points.

(1) Evacuation British troops from Egypt must be immediate, complete and not conditioned by treaty.

(2) Maintenance of unity of Egypt and Sudan self-government for Sudanese and restoration to Egypt of her rights in administration of Sudan in order to further preparation of Sudanese for self-government.

2. Egyptian declaration can best be judged in light Sidky–Bevin agreements of last October which provided for mutual arrangements, for defense arrangements, for evacuation and for Sudan. Agreements were submitted to Egyptian Chamber Deputies November 26 and received vote of confidence. Egyptian Government informed British Government December 1 that it was ready to sign treaty and two annexes dealing with evacuation and Sudan. It was stated by Bevin in Commons January 27 sole reason why agreements not signed was endeavor Egyptian Government to construe one phrase of Sudan protocol as meaning they could rely on British support to deny to Sudanese complete freedom of choice when time came for Sudanese to choose their future status.

3. British Government had already agreed as part above arrangements to complete evacuation British troops in Egypt by 1949 which period is not excessive for winding up immense commitments of British army in Egypt which was main base for war in which British arms saved Egypt from being overrun by Nazis.

4. As Bevin had already indicated British Government is also in favor eventual self-government for Sudanese who when time comes for them to choose their future status would not be debarred from choosing complete independence or some form of association with Egypt or even complete union if Sudanese wished it. “It is not true therefore to say that ‘British policy is directed towards inciting Sudanese to secede from Egypt.’”

5. Egyptian statement also says that Sudanese are of same race, language and religion as Egyptians. Prime Minister must point out that Sudanese comprise many races and types Nilotic, Hamitic, Negroid besides Arabs and out of approximately 7,000,000 Sudanese more than 2,500,000 are neither Muslim nor Arabic speaking.

6. Egyptian statement indicates Sudanese will only be able to express their views freely when British troops have evacuated Sudan. British troops in common with Egyptian troops are in Sudan at disposal of Governor-General for defense of Sudan. “It is incorrect to say that presence of either British or Egyptian troops makes it impossible for Sudanese to express their views freely.” End statement.

7. Asked from floor whether evacuation British troops was being continued Prime Minister said “we have of course fallen back on our rights under 1936 treaty and while we are evacuating from Cairo we are going to Canal Zone.”

8. Today’s Times prints below statement³ Reuter news item of March 11 from Cairo re Nokrashy’s announcement to Egyptian Senate⁴ that he would ask Security Council to annul 1936 Egyptian treaty. Nokrashy is reported to have expressed desire for relations between Sudan and Egypt to be similar to those existing between Northern Ireland and England i.e. home rule within Egyptian Kingdom.

Gallman

1. Clement Attlee. Telegram 604, January 28, from London, reported that Mr. Bevin had made a statement on the negotiations with Egypt before the House of Commons on January 27, expressing his “hope that broader and less stubborn counsels may come to prevail in Cairo” because a fresh treaty was called for. In the meantime, he said, the treaty of 1936 would be adhered to (741.83/1–2847).
2. Made at a press conference on March 3.
3. By the British Prime Minister.
4. On March 11.