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

984A.53/9–2854: Telegram

No. 899
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Cairo, September 28, 1954—4 p.m.

420. Egyptian Minister Foreign Affairs told me few minutes ago he had had somewhat confused notices of a “little incident” at southern mouth of Suez Canal. According to his reports an Israeli boat of about 100 tons, flying Israeli flag, approached southern entrance of Canal and when questioned apparently within Egyptian territorial waters, fired on Egyptians. Thereupon Egyptians had taken boat into custody.

Fawzi indicated that if this is confirmed they will bring it to attention of Security Council but will not press for any action.

He added, “I remind you that for about a year we have been very lenient indeed about shipments for Israel passing through the Canal.”²

Caffery

1. Repeated to London, Tel Aviv, and the Arab capitals.
2. In a letter to the Security Council of Sept. 28, Israel charged that the SS Bat Galim, flying the Israeli flag and bound for Haifa, had been seized by the Egyptian authorities at the southern entrance of the Suez Canal. (U.N. doc. S/3296) In a letter of Sept. 29, Egypt stated that the Bat Galim had approached the harbor of Suez and without provocation had opened fire with small arms on Egyptian fishing boats within territorial waters. Egypt had arrested the crew and ordered an inquiry to determine responsibility for the incident. (U.N. doc. S/3297)