780.5/9–2851: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey 1
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252. Fact Bradley unavailable visit Turkey for approx 10 days (Deptel 247 Sept 26)2 provides additional time persuade Turks desirability [Page 192] Tripartite mil visit and goes some way toward meeting Turk views re hasty consideration such important matters. At same time we are faced with dilemma re Egypt Govt which, unless substantive proposals are received in very near future, may find itself forced abrogate treaty on short notice.3 Current developments Iran4 might bring matter to head rapidly.
We wld greatly prefer more leisurely course of action (Plan A) now proposed i.e. Tripartite mil visit to Turkey ana full discussion with Turks re NATO and MEC, followed by multilateral approach to Egypt led by UK and including Turkey. However, in view possibility sudden deterioration Egypt situation, it wld be desirable have agreed emergency course of action (Plan B) which wld permit substantive approach to Egypt re MEC before or during mil visit Turkey.
Main difficulty Plan B is that in order succeed we wld have to give Egypts as much substance re MEC as possible if Egypt Govt were to use Plan B disclosures to keep lid on rising popular pressure for abrogation. However, to give Egypts substance MEC or even outline without Turk agreement wld to some extent freeze MEC proposals and thus wld seriously prejudice consultations with Turks on this matter. We have discussed Plan B tentatively with Brit Emb, Wash, in order to ascertain FonOff views re possibility you and Brit colleague might approach Turk Govt to obtain its suggestions re way out this Egypt dilemma and its views what might properly be said to Egypts re MEC and Turk participation therein, bearing in mind that once we approach Egypt, we must have some broad details and not generalities in hand. Obviously Plan B not feasible without Turk agreement. In addition, their participation would enhance its success.
Dept wld appreciate your urgent views re feasibility Plan B for consideration along with Brit FonOff comments.
FYI Press of events in Egypt stressed today in Dept conversation with Turk Emb Rep.
- Drafted by Jones and Stabler, and signed for the Under Secretary by Burton Y. Berry, cleared by GTI and EUR. Repeated to Cairo, London, and Paris.↩
- Supra.↩
- Reference is to the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty regarding British military rights in Egypt. For further documentation on Anglo-Egyptian disputes over this treaty and also the Sudan, see pp. 343 ff.↩
- Reference is to the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company by Mosadeq; see p. 544.↩