Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V

780.56/5–2450: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom ¹

top secret

Washington, May 31, 1950—6 p. m.

2620. Embtel 2911, May 24.² Arms request from Israel and several Arab states including lend-lease retransfer to Egypt are currently under consideration and Dept unable predict how soon decision will be reached. In any event Dept believes it would be unwise if immed fol declaration it became publicly known arms shipments were going forth to one side or other. Moreover numbered para 1 of declaration intended reaffirm previous arms policy and not enunciation new policy. Dept inclined believe that when decisions are reached re further arms shipments it wld be preferable to grant export licenses against current requests from Israel and Arab states simultaneously. Emb will, of course, be informed when decision made. Pls comment.

Acheson

1. This telegram was repeated to Cairo.
2. Not printed; it reported that a British Foreign Office spokesman had raised again the question of American permission for the United Kingdom to transfer weapons and ammunition of lend-lease origin to Egypt (780.56/5–2450).