Office of the Historian

780.5/10–1752: Circular telegram

No. 95
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions in the Near East1

secret
Washington, October 17, 1952—8:26 p.m.

449. Part I of II. Brit Emb informed Dept2 that UK now prepared join other sponsors in early approach to Arab States on MEDO. Fon Off sounds note of warning that care must be taken to prevent prelim exchange of views with Arabs from developing into interminable and fruitless negotiations and emphasizes need to show in near future real evidence of determination and ability to resist aggression in ME.

  • A.1. Fon Off considers necessary present Arabs with written text in order to avoid subsequent misunderstanding. Proposes that each Arab Govt be told that similar communications being made to others, that Govt’s written or oral comments wld be welcome and that if Govt chose to designate rep to pursue discussions with sponsoring powers, this acceptable. Also proposes, inform Govts that no commitments had been made regarding Israeli participation and Israeli Govt not being invited to comment at this stage.

    2. Fon Off opposes multilateral démarche and suggests communications shld be made in each capital by one rep of sponsors, other reps taking subsequently appropriate supporting action. Suggests rep who wld act in each capital wld be local doyen among sponsors reps.

    [Page 293]

    3. Approach to Egypt to be accompanied by Brit attempt to work out settlement of Suez problem.

  • B. Abbreviated text proposed communication to Arabs follows:
    • “1. Pres lack of effective coord plans for defence of ME must be cause of concern to states in area and entire free world. ME area constituting as it does point of junction between three continents lies in vital and vulnerable strategic position and evident it can no longer afford remain in contrast with other regions vacuum from point view defence planning. Successful arrangements ensure its security must depend on concerted efforts of all interested states. Can be no doubt that effective central org embracing all those countries both within and outside area which are able and willing help in its defence is only means of coord these efforts and achieving joint aims of powers concerned.
    • “2. The … Govt will recall that guiding principles of such org were set out in Paris declaration of Nov 10th 1951.3 Particular stress was laid on its purely defensive character. Also made clear that such org wld not prejudice independence of states in area which it was hoped wld participate in it as equal members.
    • “3. Govts of UK, US, Fr, Turk, Aust, NZ and South Africa have since been carefully considering what steps shld be taken to give effect to purposes set forth in this declaration and they now wish to give … Govt indication of lines on which their ideas crystalizing. As result of latest exchanges of views between them seven Govts are agreed that best method procedure wld be to estab in first place an org whose activities wld be limited to planning coord and liaison. This org wld provide desired centre for coord defence efforts of interested states. Task wld be draw up common plans for defending ME for remedying existing milit deficiencies and for providing milit assistance in shape of arms equipment training or advice. Org wld be estab in most suitable available place ME. UK have offered Cyprus; other sites suggested; decision on point might be taken by all powers who participate in proposed joint org. Details of structure of org have not been worked out though certain principles wld clearly have be observed. Must be body on which all participating states wld be represented and planning group of staff officers. In gen org shld be kept small and flexible so that it may operate efficiently and undertake further responsibilities as time goes on.
    • “4. At this stage while various possibilities are under discussion between them it wld be most valuable to seven Govts to know prelim and gen reactions of Govts to above proposals. They wld accordingly welcome any comments which wld help them take decisions on nature, composition, scope, structure and seat of org.”
Bruce
  1. Sent to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, and Ankara, and repeated for information to London, Paris, Tel Aviv, Wellington, Canberra, and Pretoria. Drafted by Daspit and cleared by NE, GTI, BNA, and S/S.↩
  2. A memorandum of conversation, dated Oct. 13, not printed, recorded the visit of an officer of the British Embassy to the Department of State to present the views of the British Foreign Office on approaching the Arab States concerning the Middle East Defense Organization. He read a message from Eden to the British Ambassador and left the text of the proposed communication to the Arab States which is transmitted in this telegram. (780.5/10–1352)↩
  3. See the Department of State Bulletin, Nov. 19, 1951, pp. 817–818. All ellipses in this document are in the source text.↩