Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 2

774.00/10–352: Telegram

No. 1013
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt¹

secret
niact

Washington, October 3, 1952—2:23 p.m.

699. 1. Dept last night recd Brit views re draft instrs contained Deptel 678 to Cairo, 2293 to London:²

“It seems to us that these instrs meet the situation admirably and that when carried out, they shld give us a clearer indication of the intentions of the present Egyptian regime in Fon Affairs. We have therefore no major comments. FonOff comments on minor points are as follows:

(a) It wld seem here essential to try to work for some written assurances by the Egyptians, though Mr. Eden realizes that it may be difficult to get them, and in any case they are not likely to be very precise. But oral assurances given by way of secret commitments wld, the FonOff feel, provide an insufficient basis for an understanding.

(b) By support for UN action in Korea, the FonOff take it that the USG are thinking in terms of support in the GA and other organs of the UN and not of mil support.

(c) Mr. Eden is particularly grateful for the reference to compensation for the deaths in the Jan 26th riots and confirms that a gesture by the Egyptian Govt in this direction wld have a good effect upon public opinion in the United Kingdom towards the Naguib regime.”

2. Re (a) Dept stated we wld work towards written commitments stated with as much precision as possible. However we wld not wish insist on this to pt prejudicial to new relationship we are endeavoring estab with Egypt. Re (b) we had in mind gen support in UN, not troops.

3. Instrs contained Deptel 678 now confirmed and you authd transmit to Gen Naguib reply contained para 7 Deptreftel.³

Acheson

1. Repeated to London as telegram 2376. Drafted by Stabler and approved by Byroade and Secretary Acheson.
2. Secretary Acheson informed President Truman on Oct. 3 that the British Government had informed the Department that it was in accord with the draft instructions sent to Ambassador Caffery. He told the President further that the Department was authorizing Caffery to reply to General Naguib along the lines of the draft instructions. (774.00/10–352)
3. Ambassador Caffery informed the Department in telegram 881, Oct. 7, not printed, that he had delivered the message to General Naguib the previous day (Oct. 6). (774.00/10–752)