641.74/12–1951: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United, Kingdom (Gifford) to the Department of State 1
2815. Eden launched hour’s discussion with Salaheddin evening 18th by speaking out strongly against attacks two Egypt members Brit Emb, attacks in canal zone by Egypt police and terrorists, anti-Brit propaganda in Brit press and recall Amr deplored present state Anglo-Egypt relations and said business two FonMins set them right. In first place essential that incidents shld cease and present tension be relaxed. He urged most strongly that when this had been brought about Egypt Govt shld study 4-power proposals which UK sincerely believed held basis fair settlement. Salaheddin seemed agree incidents regrettable. He spoke on usual lines about impossibility accepting Brit or any other foreign occupation and said Egypt Govt had rejected 4-power proposals after close study showed little difference from offer Egypt had rejected in April. Eden disagreed. Enumerated specific advantages. Was confident differences cld be ironed out if proposals only discussed. Made it plain UK cld not meet Egypt demand for evacuation and that it was not God Salaheddin expecting it.
Salaheddin said he wld report conv to his govt, putting to it suggestion that efforts shld now be made bring incidents to end (Eden said UK had already done its part by withdrawing troops from Said, Suez and Ismailia) and that thereafter both sides shld consider 4-power proposals without commitment. Eden said he was ready contemplate talks either London or Cairo. No mention of Sudan was made during conv.
Commenting on conv in his report to London, Eden said he cld not tell whether anything wld come of it, that he gave nothing away and that Salaheddin seemed in more reasonable mood than anticipated. [Page 443] Eden was asked for Stevenson’s comments in connection instruction reported Embtel 2770, rptd Cairo 112.2
FonOff also at loss know what to make of Salaheddin’s rather surprising moderation, but thinks he may be shrewd enough realize Farouk’s state of mind about Wafd Govt and also subdued by lack success Paris. If there is any serious indication from Cairo that suggestion third para might lead to something FonOff likely be willing hold up action on instruction reported Embtel 2770 for at least several days.3
- Repeated to Cairo.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 5, p. 441; in telegram 903 from Cairo, December 18, Caffery reported that Stevenson had received his instructions from London which included “lecture King in Miles Lampson way.” Stevenson had told Caffery “(most confidentially) this wld have been all right in 1888 or even in 1920 but now it wld only make the King very angry indeed as it wld bring to mind the tanks of 1942.” Caffery reported that Stevenson was “thinking up best approach to let FonOff know tactfully how completely unrealistic all this is.” (641.74/12–1851)↩
- Caffery reported in telegram 921 from Cairo, December 21, that the Acting Chief of the King’s Cabinet had said the previous evening that Farouk “is not thinking presently about any change of government. As matters now stand he considers it more prudent to keep Wafd in power.” (641.74/12–2151)↩