Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

800.00 Summaries/12–149: Circular telegram

The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices ¹

confidential

Washington, December 1, 1949—3 a. m.

Emb Cairo reports Min War issued secret instructions in effect lifting restrictions on passage shipping through Suez Canal and on normal operating schedules US ships Medit area, except those carrying war materials, incl fuels (infotel). Emb says instr beginning be carried out all Egypt ports. Eg customs official Alexandria informed ConGen ships carrying non-mil cargo to or from Israel can pass thru Suez Canal and Eg ports without restriction molestation, provided ships bound from Eg for Israel first call at another port.

Acheson

1. At Tel Aviv, Arab capitals (except Cairo), London. Paris, and Jerusalem.