Editorial Note
The Embassy in France was informed by Webb in telegram 1915, niact, to Paris, October 1 that the French Government should not be informed of the contemplated quadripartite approach to Egypt until the United States and United Kingdom had reached full agreement on the Plan B proposals, and the Embassy was explicitly requested not to approach the French Government regarding telegrams 1889 (printed as telegram 258 to Ankara, page 195) and 1890 (page 198) until further instruction. The Embassy in France informed the Secretary of State in telegram 1976, niact, October 2, that the British Embassy had telephoned to state that the British Foreign Office had just revealed the outline of Plans A and B to French officials in London and had instructed the Embassy in Paris to “follow up here” with the French Government. In telegram 274 to Ankara, October 2, repeated to Paris as 1943, Cairo as 487, and London as 1789, Webb reported that present arrangements called for General Bradley and a small American military party to visit Ankara between October 12 and 15, and the recipients were authorized to inform the governments to whom they were accredited accordingly. Ambassador Wadsworth reported from Ankara in telegram 318, niact, October 3, that he had informed the Turkish Foreign Office that day of the contents of telegram 274. The same day, Webb instructed the Embassy in France in telegram 1955 that in view of the British action taken as reported in telegram 1976 from Paris, the French Foreign Office should be brought up to date “on general developments re MEC since President’s message to Turk President [Bayar] including our recent approach to Egypt re no precipitate [Page 202] action.” Ambassador Bruce was also instructed to “outline Plan B (but not furnish text) and reasons underlying it, emphasizing, however, that precise nature proposals under this plan not yet finalized.”
Thereafter, British and American officials in both Paris and Washington seem to have conferred and agreed upon a firm proposal for implementing Plan B based upon British Foreign Office cables 4691 of October 1 and 4751 of October 3 to the Embassy in Washington, neither of which is found in Department of State files (telegrams 1982 and 2016, niact, from Paris, October 3), but see a summary of telegram 283 to Ankara, October 4, in the editorial note, infra. On October 4, Ambassador Bruce reported that the British Embassy had presented to the French Foreign Office that day a new paper on the MEC based upon Foreign Office cable 4751 to the Embassy in Washington. Bruce added that “On reading new Brit suggestions Margerie told Brit Min French shld have little difficulty in accepting them.” All other telegrams cited above are in file 780.00.