Office of the Historian

867N.01/5–1548: Telegram

The Ambassador in Egypt (Tuck) to the Secretary of State

secret
most immediate
Cairo, May 15, 1948—1 p. m.

522. Certain Chiefs Mission Diplomatic Corps were summoned by Minister of Foreign Affairs to Foreign Office this morning at intervals [Page 997] of fifteen minutes. When my turn came Khasbaba Pasha informed me—evidently in a set speech—of motives which he [said] decided Egyptian Government to send its troops into Palestine. Purport his remarks are contained in a memorandum which he requested me to make known to my government. (See Embtel 523, May 15.1)

Minister Foreign Affairs then asked me whether it was true that our government had decided to recognize the provisional Jewish government as the de facto authority of new Jewish state. I replied that I had received official advice to that effect and that reports appearing in this morning’s press could be considered as substantially correct. After a long pause Khasbaba Pasha said that despite everything he still believed that the future of Arab states lies in a close relationship with the West.

Sent Department 522, repeated London 38.

Tuck
  1. Not printed; the memorandum stated that Egyptian armed forces had penetrated Palestine “to reestablish order, peace and security” and that Egyptian intervention was not directed against the Jews of Palestine hut against the “bands of terrorist Zionists.” (867N.01/5–1548)

    Ambassador Tuck, on May 14, had reported that “In apparent effort to lay blame on America for necessity to intervene Palestine [Egyptian] govt spokesman today declared to press that Egypt and Arab countries had ignored American demands that they should not resort to armed intervention in Palestine. Such warning on contrary had increased the determination of the Arabs to prevent creation of a Zionist state.” (Telegram 521 from Cario, 883.00/55–1448)

    The Egyptian Foreign Minister, in a telegram of May 15, notified the President of the Security Council of the entry of Egyptian forces into Palestine; for text, see SC, 3rd yr., No. 66, p. 3. Similarly King Abdullah, in a telegram of May 16, notified Secretary-General Lie of the entry of Transjordanian armed forces into Palestine; for text, see SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for May 1948, p. 90.

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