780.5/9–2451
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Affairs (Stabler)
| Participants: | Mr. Colin Moodie, Counselor of Australian Embassy |
| Mr. Owen Davis, First Secretary of Australian Embassy | |
| NE—Mr. G. Lewis Jones | |
| BNA—Mr. Shullaw | |
| NE—Mr. Stabler |
Summary
Mr. Moodie and Mr. Davis were requested to call at the Department this afternoon. Mr. Jones informed them that the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Australia was delivering an invitation today to the Australian Government on behalf of the United Kingdom, the United States, and France requesting it to participate in the Middle East Command structure. We had instructed our Embassy in Canberra1 to inform the Australian Government that we considered the establishment of a Middle East Command of great importance to the defense of the Middle East and the free world, and to express the hope [Page 189] that Australia would be able to accept the invitation. Mr. Jones pointed out that although the action on this matter was being taken in Canberra, we wished to keep the Embassy here advised. He emphasized the top secret character of this information.
Mr. Moodie said that his Government and Embassy had received a general indication of this development but that they were not aware that the invitation was to be issued so soon. He was unable to give any idea as to what his Government’s reaction would be to this invitation since he had received no word from Canberra on this matter. He asked a number of questions regarding participation in the Command, its structure, the position of Israel, and the attitude of Turkey. Mr. Jones gave him general information on these subjects but pointed out that many of the details could only be worked out on a military, technical level, and that this could be done only at such time as it was possible to go ahead with the formal establishment of a Middle East Command. Mr. Moodie recalled that Australia might not be very popular in Egypt as a result of certain incidents during World War II. He wondered whether this would in any way affect the Egyptian attitude.
Mr. Moodie said that he would like to keep in close touch with us on this matter.2
- In telegram 64, priority to Canberra, September 22, not printed (780.5/9–2251).↩
- The same day, September 24, Jones informed representatives of New Zealand and the Union of South Africa that invitations were then being extended to their respective governments to join the Middle East Command structure (Memoranda of conversation: 780.5/9–2451). In telegram 85 from Pretoria of September 29, Ambassador Gallman reported that the Union of South Africa accepted the invitation to participate in the establishment of a Middle East Command subject to the “clear understanding” that the Union would not dispatch troops to the Middle East “until called upon do so in interest Union’s obligations in event war” (780.5/9–2851). In telegram 106 from Wellington of October 2, Ambassador Scotten informed the Secretary of State that the New Zealand Government accepted the proposal to participate in the Middle East Command and would send a delegation to take part in discussions, “but indicated apprehension lest inclusion Egypt have adverse results” (780.5/10–251). In telegram 122 of October 3 from Canberra, Richard Byrd reported that the Australian Government had agreed to take part in discussions concerning the MEC and agreed in principle to participate in the Command with the stipulation that terms of announcement were to be agreed in advance by Australia. “PriMin [Menzies] made clear ultimate government position will be affected substantially by arrangements made for higher political direction by MEC.” The Prime Minister also “emphasized participation MEC means substantial political problem for government which will have to maintain position after announcement that Australia has no troop commitment” (780.5/10–351).↩