Office of the Historian

780.5/9–2951: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey 1

top secret
niact
Washington, September 29, 1951—3 p. m.

258. 1. Brit Emb Wash informed Dept Sept 28 that FonOff believes [Page 196] that because delay Bradley and info Cairo tel 364 Sept 26,2 some approach to Egypt along lines Plan B (Deptel 252, Sept 28)3 will have to be made before tripartite mil visit and that consequently FonOff now sees program in three stages “First stage: Immed appeal Egypts by US and (we hope) Turkish Govts to do nothing precipitate;

Second stage: attempt by US and Brit Ambs in Ankara to get Turk concurrence within next few days in broad approach to Egypts about future MEC and what it offers for Egypt, in a form which will not prejudge details of Turkey’s participation in Command;

Third stage: visit by Gen Bradley and Field Marshal Slim (and Fr Gen) to Ankara and perhaps Cairo in which we hope agreement wld be reached on gen shape of Command.”

2. Re first stage above Dept stated Cairo already instructed this sense and that we concur re desirability Turk approach Egypts (Deptel 253, Sept 28 to Ankara).4

3. Re Second stage above Dept advised Brit Emb that Plan A (Deptel 252 Sept 28) preferable and shld be carried out if Egypt sit permits. We hoped combined approaches Egypt (para 2 above) wld provide additional time needed. However, Dept considers it prudent to have Plan B agreed in advance with Turks and available for emergency use if sit Egypt suddenly deteriorates before tripartite mil visit. Turk acquiescence is essential Plan B approach to Egypts which wld be greatly enhanced if Turks act in concert with US, UK and we hope Fr.

4. We pointed out that Turks before acquiescing Plan B wld want to know in some detail what wld be told Egypts. Consequently, in consultation with Brit Emb fol draft (for submission to you and ur Brit colleague for comment and Brit FonOff for approval) was approved jointly as representing maximum which Turks and later Egypts might be told prior tripartite mil visit.

“Points for use by UK and US Ambassadors, Ankara in securing cooperation of Turkish Govt in approach to the Egyptians and later for use by UK, US and possibly Turkish Ambassadors, Cairo.

1.
The defense of the ME and specifically of Egypt is vital to the security of the free world.
2.
The defense of Egypt and of other countries in the Middle East against aggression from outside the area can only be secured through the cooperation of the interested powers including those not territorially part of the area.
3.
The defense of Egypt or any other part of the Middle East can only be assured through the effective defense of the area as a whole and the coordination of this defense with that of adjacent areas.
4.
It therefore seems desirable to establish an Allied Middle East Command (MEC) in which the countries able and willing to contribute to the defense of the area should participate. France, Turkey, UK and USA are prepared to participate with other interested countries in establishing such a Command.
5.
Egypt is invited to participate as a founder member of the Middle East Command on a basis of full equality and partnership with other founding members.
6.
Similar invitations are being issued to Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa, who have indicated their interest in the defense of the area.
7.
Egypt will be given a position of high authority and responsibility within MEC and the MEC HQ will include Egyptian officers on the integrated staff.
8.
Facilities to train and equip her forces to be given to Egypt by those participating members of the Command in a position to do so.
9.
The present British base in Egypt to be formally handed over to the Egyptians on the understanding that it will simultaneously become an Allied base within MEC with full Egyptian participation in the running of this base in peace and war.
10.
All British forces not allocated to MEC will be withdrawn from Egypt starting forthwith.
11.
All British forces stationed in Egypt in peace and war will form part of the MEC.
12.
The number of Allied forces to be stationed in Egypt in peacetime to be determined by MEC in agreement with the Egyptian Government.
13.
In the event of war, imminent menace of war or apprehended international emergency, Egypt would grant to the allied forces all necessary facilities and assistance including the use of Egyptian ports, aerodromes and means of communications.
14.
The structure and organization of MEC will be worked out in the near future by representatives of the founding members.”

5. You will note that above is based on Deptel 182 Sept 85 and that by telescoping first part attempt has been made avoid introducing Command Structure details which must remain for mil talks.

6. Concert your comments re above with your British colleague.

7. Re third stage above Dept view is that visit Bradley, Slim and French General to Turkey (and possibly later to Egypt) still key element to MEC success and that use Plan B in emergency would in no way detract from importance tripartite military visit.

Webb
  1. Drafted by G. Lewis Jones and Stabler. Cleared by McGhee, Perkins, Dorsz, and Moore of GTI, Admiral Wright and Colonel Storke of Defense. Approved for transmission by Jones. Repeated to Cairo, London, and Paris.↩
  2. Not printed; it reported an interview between Egyptian King Farouk and British Ambassador Stevenson at Cairo in which the King stated that domestic pressures for an early abrogation of the 1936 Treaty were becoming irresistible (641.74/9–2551).↩
  3. Ante, p. 191.↩
  4. Not printed.↩
  5. Same as telegram 339 to Cairo, p. 181.↩