645W.74/10–2652: Telegram
No. 1020
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
1044. As I set out in mytel 1031, Oct 242 the Egyptians are fighting hard to save face on the Sudan. Naguib told me at some length last night of his recent convs with various Sudanese dels here. He said even if he is successful he will be bitterly attacked by Wafd, Moslem Bros, Commies and “others too” for having sold the Sudan down the river to the British.
Egyptians will be forced to accept in essence present Brit program but are working to reach agreed position with all Sudanese factions re amendments to draft constitution and electoral law. Altho number of hurdles remain to be overcome Naguib and his advisors are optimistic that Sudanese will reach agrmt on proposals which GOE will then support as representing real wishes of Sudanese.
- Repeated to London as telegram 346 and unnumbered to Paris, Ankara, the Arab capitals, Rome, Moscow, and Tehran.↩
- Ambassador Caffery in telegram 1031, Oct. 24, not printed, informed the Department that the Egyptians now realized that the British had “soundly routed them in Sudan battle and Brit are going ahead with their Sudan arrangements as planned during recent years.” (641.74/10–2452)↩