Office of the Historian

501.BB/5–347: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt

secret
Washington, May 3, 1947—10 a. m.

705. For background information.

1.
On technical grounds US considers GA more appropriate organ for solution Sudan question than SC for following reasons:
a.
It would be difficult for Egypt to establish this question endangers international peace in view of long-standing relationship of UK and Egypt. In absence of such showing SC would have jurisdiction to request parties to negotiate pursuant to Article 33 or to make other recommendations only in event of consent of UK pursuant to Article 38.
b.
Sudan question involves proposed peaceful revision of treaty and may be deemed situation likely to impair general welfare under Article 14, and therefore for GA.
c.
GA recommendation unsatisfactory to Egypt places less onus on Great Powers than SC decision.
2.
If Egypt brings controversy with UK to SC at this time, Egyptian complaint to SC likely to raise entire subject Anglo-Egyptian negotiations including both Sudan question and presence British troops in Egypt. Troop question clearly within jurisdiction of SC. USSR would almost certainly propose immediate withdrawal British troops, thus transforming matter on which considerable agreement exists between Egypt and UK into major political issue in SC and aligning USSR with Arab states.
3.
Dept reaffirms general principle that all states should have free access to SC and recognizes danger of unfavorable publicity in event of any suggestion to Egyptian Govt that matter should not be brought [Page 771] to SC. However, such danger would be minimized if statement confined to suggestion that GA rather than SC should deal with Sudan problem.
4.
You should not express Dept’s views Egyptian Govt without further clearance with Dept. Your comments, however, urgently desired concerning advisability of communicating informally these views Egyptian Govt.1
Marshall
  1. This telegram was repeated to London as No. 1947.↩