774.56/3–1850: Telegram
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
260. Reference to my air despatch 471, March 16,1 I received yesterday a personal note from Minister Foreign Affairs, reading as follows:
“I undertake to point out to you some reflections, dictated by our common concern for maintaining peace and for safeguarding the welfare of the ME.
“It would perhaps be superfluous to draw your attention to the disquiet which reigns in Egypt as a result of the growth of the political and territorial ambitions of Israel, encouraged by the sympathies of some and the indulgences of others. In this connection, I regret that I am obliged to emphasize that the declarations of certain American personalities and the tendencies manifested many times within the American Congress itself are of such a nature as to intensify the feeling of Arab opinion. In fact, such declarations and tendencies run the risk of encouraging the Zionists to attempt to add a new round to the shocking series of blows and of violations of the rights of people which they have committed with impunity, in order to put before the world a fait accompli, the bitter memory of which is still fresh in Arab minds. A supply of arms, of whatever kind it may be, coming as support to the said declarations and tendencies, will not fail to reenforce the position of the Zionists, thus exposing peace in the ME to a danger which we all are interested in avoiding.
“On the other hand, given that the American Government, while maintaining its policy in regard to the export of arms to the ME, is effectively coming to the aid of Israel by supplying it with quantities of non-offensive military equipment, would it not be just that the said government should benefit Egypt with this type of aid in order to permit it to exercise its legitimate right to take necessary measures to assure its own defence. In this regard, I believe that you will agree with me that it would only be just and natural that this aid should be offered, taking into account the size of Egyptian territory, the extent of its frontiers, and the importance of the population of Egypt.
“In drawing the above to your attention, I should be very grateful to you if you would bring it to the attention of your government and would communicate to me its response, which I hope will be favorable.
“Yours sincerely, M. Salaheddin.”2
- Not printed; it transmitted a message from Prime Minister Nahas thanking the Ambassador for his “great assistance” regarding the release to Egyptian authorities of spare parts for Sherman tanks and requesting his good offices in securing the release of 160,000 rounds of 75 mm. ammunition (774.56/3–1650).↩
- The “Summary of Daily Meeting with the Secretary” of March 21 states the following: “The Secretary referred to telegram No. 260 from Caffery which said the Egyptians were now accusing us of furnishing arms to the Israelis. The Secretary said this is the reverse of what we have been charged with in the past since the Israelis have been accusing us of allowing the Arabs to get arms. He wondered if we could not make some capital of this but did not receive a very enthusiastic response. Mr. Rusk said he was hesitant to fan glowing embers. The Secretary concluded by saying that at least NEA should get down in cold type who is getting what in the way of arms. Mr. Rusk said he would see that this was done.” (Secretary’s memoranda, Lot 53 D 444)↩