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

501.BB Palestine/1–1049

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Satterthwaite)¹

confidential

[Washington,] January 10, 1949.

Subject: Interview with Ambassador of Egypt at 5 p. m.

Participants:	Ambassador of Egypt
	NEA—Mr. Satterthwaite
	NE—Mr. W. L. Jenkins

The Ambassador said he had been informed that Israeli forces still held three posts in Egypt and that although his Government had agreed to send representatives to Rhodes to negotiate with the Acting Mediator of the UN for an Armistice, such representatives would not leave Egypt until all Israeli forces had left Egyptian Territory. His Government would also insist that the negotiations, if undertaken, should be based primarily on the UN Resolutions of November 4 and 16; that Egypt would participate in them with an open mind and a sincere desire for a permanent armistice and future peace.² Kamel Bey expressed great appreciation of the splendid efforts recently made by the US to persuade the Israelis to withdraw their troops from Egypt and believed that without them Egypt would not have agreed to enter the prospective negotiations. He hoped that the US would continue to take the lead in effecting an armistice. He stressed the present dangers to the internal security of Egypt and felt that the hands of his Government had been strengthened in its efforts to maintain order by the strong representations recently made by the U.S. to both his and the Israeli Governments.

Mr. Satterthwaite said that he had been informed today that Israeli troops had left Egypt and stressed the fact that the efforts of his Government to effect a peaceful solution of the Palestinian problem would continue to be in close cooperation with the United Nations. He hoped that the Conciliation Committee would get under way this week.

[Here follow two paragraphs of discussion of possible changes in the Egyptian cabinet and of the arrival in Washington of two Transjordanian officials.]

In leaving, the Ambassador again emphasized the great importance of the role recently taken by the U.S., and offered to continue to keep the Department promptly informed of reports or instructions received from his Government.

1. Drafted by William L. Jenkins of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs.
2. New York, on January 11, reported information from Egyptian Representative at the United Nations Fawzi that “Position of Egyptian Government regarding Rhodes discussions is that said discussions comprehend resolutions of November 4 and 16 and December 29. Fawzi emphasized very strongly that these negotiations were not direct and not political although, he added, they are much more important than any previous discussions considering their extent and timing.” (Telegram 21, 501.BB Palestine/1–1149) For the resolution of December 29, 1948, see Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. v. Part 2, p. 1699.