974.5301/3–1153
No. 583
The Secretary of State to the
British Ambassador (Makins)1
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the British Ambassador and has the honor to acknowledge the [Page 1152] receipt of his note No. 46 of January 29, 19532 which proposes the initiation of discussions between the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and France concerning the freedom of transit through the Suez Canal. An aide-mémoire, identical in content to the Ambassador’s note, has also been received from the Embassy of the French Republic.
After due consideration of the United States position with respect to the free use of the Suez Canal as it relates to presently existing circumstances in Egypt, the United States Government wishes to express to the Governments of Great Britain and France its opinion that the holding at this time of secret conversations between the three Governments relating to the agenda set forth in numbered Paragraph 12 of the note under reference would be premature and possibly prejudicial to the conclusion of agreements of larger significance to the Western Powers.
Although the United States Government is not a party to the Convention of Constantinople of October 29, 1888, the views of this Government on the subject of the freedom of transit through the Suez Canal are well-known. By its co-sponsorship of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Egyptian restrictions on Canal traffic of September 1, 1951, the United States gave emphatic public expression to its views with respect to the free flow of traffic through the Canal. The Egyptian Government is well aware of the attitude of the United States Government in this respect.
While it is true that the situation with respect to unimpeded passage through the Canal is not yet ideal, the United States joins the Governments of the United Kingdom and France in their belief that the general disposition of the present Egyptian Government offers reasonable grounds for the expectation that satisfactory consideration of international rights will be afforded.
The Government of the United States understands that negotiations with the Egyptian Government on the long outstanding defense question may soon be under way. The successful conclusion of an amicable understanding would materially alter, to the benefit of the free nations, the situation in the Middle East. In view of the importance of these negotiations with Egypt, the United States is reluctant to take the risk of prejudicing their successful outcome. The proposed exchange of views between the three Governments, particularly since other maritime powers are to be invited to associate themselves with an agreed plan of action, might well result in seriously affecting the negotiations with Egypt. This is especially the case in the event that it should reach public notice that such a [Page 1153] consultation was taking place without the knowledge or participation of the Egyptian Government.
The United States Government will be pleased to receive any further comments of the Government of the United Kingdom respecting the matters set forth above and desires to express its continued interest in the views of the British Government with regard to the freedom of transit of the Suez Canal.