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

800.3383/6–347: Telegram

The Chargé in Egypt (Patterson) to the Secretary of State

restricted

Cairo, June 3, 1947—2 p. m.

652. Foreign Office advises by circular note¹ to diplomatic missions Cairo of decision Egyptian Government not to permit war vessels to anchor in Egyptian harbors except after special application to Foreign Office at least three weeks prior to date of projected naval visit.

Same note states that in respect of transit of such vessels through Egyptian territorial waters and, by this fact the transit of the Suez Canal, notification should be given to Egyptian Foreign Office at least ten days prior to arrival on such vessels.

Following consultation with Naval Attaché, I orally drew attention yesterday of Undersecretary Foreign Office to possibility that reference to Suez Canal might not be in conformity with international status that waterway Kemal Bey has stated that he would investigate this point, since Egypt is especially desirous of maintaining legal status of Suez Canal.²

Patterson

1. No. 30.8/5, dated May 28, 1947. A copy of the note was transmitted to the Department in despatch 2584, June 5, from Cairo (800.3383/6–547).
2. Airgram 349, June 12, from Cairo reported that Kemal Bey informed the Chargé on June 11 “that since the Egyptian Government’s reference to the Suez Canal was not to be considered mandatory, but merely an expression of desire on the part of the Egyptian Government, he did not perceive that any infraction of the Suez Canal Convention was intended.” (800.3383/6–1247)