Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

780.5/2–3152: Telegram

No. 113
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Department of State¹

secret

London, December 31, 1952—7 p.m.

3605. Following is abbreviated text United Kingdom paper re Egyptian participation MEDO and enclosure handed to Byroade at United States—United Kingdom talks Egypt today.² Department’s and Cairo’s comments requested for meeting Saturday morning:

A. Memo on Egyptian participation in MEDO.

1. Egyptian agreement participate MEDO essential part “package proposal”. Timetable contemplate is that, soon Egyptian acceptance participation MEDO signified as part of negotiations over “package proposal”, MEDO (with participation Egyptian officers) should be set up forthwith, and approaches should simultaneously be made other Arab states (if possible with Egyptian support) and Pakistan with view their participation in MEDO. Nature, extent and willingness of Egyptian participation in joint defense of Middle East should thus become evident in practice well before completion process evacuating British troops from Egypt.

2. Outline MEDO in which Egyptians are to be asked participate contained enclosed memo, suitable as basis paper to be handed to Government of Egypt. This based on earlier United Kingdom memo and incorporates amendments suggested by other sponsoring powers.

B. Enclosure.

Defense of Middle East vital to free world and can be secured only by cooperation of all interested states. Establishment of MEDO would assist and support states willing join in defense of Middle East and develop capacity of each to play its proper role in defense area as whole against outside aggression. MEDO will not interfere in problems and disputes arising within area and in no way affects existing arrangement relating to such matters.

Membership of MEDO.

It is proposed that MEDO should consist, in addition to United Kingdom and Egypt, of Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudia Arabia, Yemen, United States, France, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Six last names states have already signified their intention to participate. It is hoped Egypt will join them and United Kingdom is encouraging above-mentioned Arab states to become members of organization. Once these states have formed organization, applications from other states to join organization will be decided in accordance with views of those states already composing it.

Functions of MEDO.

Function of organization will be provided centre of cooperative effort for defense purposes. Initially its tasks will be:

(a) Draw up plans for defense of Middle East.

(b) Plan for, and provide Middle East states with assistance in form of training and advice.

(c) Coordinate requests by Middle East states for arms and equipment.

(d) Make plans for operations in war of all forces allocated for defense of area in coordination with adjoining NATO commands in Mediterranean and Asia Minor.

(e) Reduce such deficiencies as exist at present in organization and capacity for defense of area.

Structure of organization.

Plans should be kept flexible and as small as is consistent with:

(a) Need for efficient planning;

(b) Participation of number of different countries;

(c) Smooth evolution into full command structure if and when participating states think this desirable.

Organization would consist of:

(a) Military representatives committee.

(b) Planning group.

Military representatives committee would consist of representatives of all states participating in organization. It would be responsible for general direction of planning group and would meet twice year, or more often if required.

The planning group.

Planning group will be integrated structure composed of officers supplied by the participating powers, under British chairman. Group would be divided into appropriate sections to handle operations, plans, intelligence, administration and logistics, training, coordination of requests for military aid and equipment, liaison with non-participating Middle East states, etc.³

Gifford

1. Repeated to Cairo.
2. For additional documentation on U.S–U.K. talks on Egypt, held in London from Dec. 31, 1952 to Jan. 7, 1953, see Documents 947 ff.
3. Discussions of MEDO at the London talks were addressed specifically to the Egyptian aspects of the problem rather than to general policy considerations. For the brief discussion of this paper on Jan. 2, 1953, see telegram 3635 from London, Document 1064.