780.5/12–552: Telegram
No. 1042
The Secretary of
State to the Embassy in
Egypt1
1171. Rep Brit Emb Wash Dec 5 orally gave Dept preliminary UK views re US aide-mémoire Nov 18 (Deptel 3409 to London) on exchange messages GOE concerning US assistance to Egypt. Brit reply along fol lines:
UK welcomes Dept’s initiative and interest in discussions with GOE. UK no less anxious in principle than US that discussions be started. UK however not ready start preliminary talks with US (prior to talks with Egypts) until review UK mil position in NE completed. This shld be about mid-Dec. Meanwhile UK considering what they cld supply Egypt in way arms as part pkge solution (which wld of course include satisfaction UK defense requirements). UK hopes be in position talk US shortly.
It was suggested that talks might be of pol-mil variety similar to those held on Egypt in Sept 1951. Dept proposed it see Brit proposals prior to such mtg. London slightly favored over Wash as site.
Brit indicated interest our plans mil, econ, assistance Egypt. Were told US actively considering such assistance altho nothing concrete had yet been devised.
- Also sent to London as telegram 3802 and to Khartoum as telegram 13. Repeated by pouch to Paris, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Jidda, and Tel Aviv.↩