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

684A.85/4–1254: Telegram

No. 793
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Cairo, April 12, 1954—11 a.m.

1295. Re Deptel 1261.² Embassy officer again emphasized to Riad yesterday our concern over incidents and necessity avoid retaliation.

Re military meeting with Israelis, Riad said as general principle Egypt always ready cooperate and never refuses discussion. He said he would think about question his attending meeting and might go Gaza April 15 by UN plane if no new incidents. Meanwhile he is recalling Colonel Gohar to take over his work during his absence at Damascus April 18 meeting. Riad said agreements might be reached which would stop major incidents for month or so but could never stop “individual incidents” (i.e. thefts and exchanges of fire across line). He asserted Egyptian retaliations were civilian while Israeli retaliations are organized either by IG or border settlers over whom IG has little or no control. He denied any similarity to situation on Jordan border and concluded it is not matter of agreements of which there are plenty, but of sincere cooperation.

Caffery

1. Sent also to Tel Aviv priority; repeated to Jerusalem.
2. See footnote 3, Document 787.