974.5301/8–3151: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt 1
307. 1. Egyptian Amb called on McGhee Aug 30 and asked whether in our opinion his intervention with his Govt re Suez restrictions wld be useful. He was concerned by effect SC condemnatory res and hoped get SC and Egypt out of this dangerous position.
2. We reviewed various efforts which had been made Wash, NY and Cairo to obtain practicable proposal from Egypt for raising restrictions and pointed out such efforts unsuccessful. We emphasized our regret SC res neces but we were obliged to call shots as we saw them.
3. Amb suggested he might propose his Govt that destination certificates merely state oil and other supplies not going to Israel and omit exact destination. When ships left Egyptian terr waters, their destination cld no longer be controlled by Egypt. If Egypt discovered certain ship had later called at Israel port, that wld be test for “flexibility” admin regulations. Amb thought black list regulations wld not be strictly applied. He inquired whether we wld seek postponement SC mtg to permit him time to communicate his Govt.
4. Dept replied that such proposal had been made before and we not receptive. However if Amb felt such approach his Govt might be useful, decision was his. In any event we were doubtful such proposal wld be acceptable. Moreover, we cld not on this basis consider further postponement SC action.
5. As Amb did not indicate whether he had decided communicate with FonMin, above is merely for ur info.
- Drafted by Mr. Stabler (NE); signed for the Acting Secretary by Mr. McGhee. Repeated for information to London, Tel Aviv, Ankara, New York, and Paris.↩