Office of the Historian

745W.00/9–2452: Telegram

No. 1011
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Department of State1

secret
Cairo, September 24, 1952—9 p.m.

783. Brit Amb saw Gen Naguib today and left with him FonOff documents on Sudan.2 He stressed that this was a prelim step and [Page 1862] did not mean that Brit Govt was launching into negots. However, it was essential that elections be held shortly in Sudan and in consequence that views of Brit Govt be made known to Egypt Govt under [sic] Naguib, whom Stevenson described as “favorably disposed”, said that he was practical man but that there were other of his countrymen who looked on things from a more involved view-point. He could take no decisions on the Brit note without consultation with his colleagues. Speaking offhand and without such consultations he cld discern three difficulties in respect to agreement on the Sudan: First was legal problem devolving from the denunciation last year by Egypt of 1899 treaty; second difficulty was fact that Pro-Unity Party in Sudan and Egypt del last UNGA had clamored for a plebiscite as guidepost toward self-determination; third difference was popular feeling in Egypt aroused under slogan “unity of Nile Valley” (we note with interest that Naguib did not mention question of royal title to Sudan).

Naguib promised Stevenson reply by Wednesday Oct 1. He said meanwhile he had no objection if offs of Mil High Comite discussed question with members of Brit Emb.

Naguib laid great stress on his desire that no publicity attach to fact that Stevenson had discussed Sudan with him. It was therefore mutually agreed that Brit Amb shld state to press he had discussed resumption of training facilities and supply of spare part to Egypt mil in his interview PriMin.

Caffery
  1. Repeated to London as telegram 270.↩

  2. Ambassador Gifford in telegram 1501 from London, Sept. 15, not printed, had reported that the Foreign Office had advised him that it had sent instructions to Ambassador Stevenson to discuss with General Naguib the proposed British reply to the Sudan Government regarding the new Sudanese constitution. (641.74/9–1552)

    In telegram 1502, Ambassador Gifford provided summaries of the British Foreign Office documents under reference, transmitting full texts to the Department in despatch 1374, Sept. 17, neither printed. (641.74/9–1552, 641.74/9–1752)

    ↩