Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

501.BB Palestine/12–2948: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Delegation at Paris

secret   us urgent
niact

Washington, December 29, 1948—11 a. m.

4957. For Jessup. Brit Emb has just informed Dept as follows. Brit FonOff has recd two cables from Brit Emb Cairo dated Dec 29. First quoted Haidar Pasha Egyptian Min War as stating Israeli forces were in vicinity El Auja and some had perhaps crossed Egyptian frontier. Message stated Egyptians were requesting UK permission for Egyptian Spitfires to operate out of Suez Canal zone.

Second and subsequent message quoted Haidar Pasha as stating Israelis were then within 10 miles of El Arish and well over Egyptian frontier.

Brit FonOff desired substance these two messages be given Dept. FonOff stated no confirmation from other sources but RAF had been instructed to verify by reconnaissance. If Israelis had in fact crossed Egyptian frontier UK obligations under terms Anglo-Egyptian treaty would of course come into play.¹

Lovett

1. This telegram was repeated to Cairo.