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

774.5 MSP/1–353: Telegram

No. 1065
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom¹

secret
priority

Washington, January 3, 1953—4:38 p.m.

4399. Further re London’s 3610 Jan 1, and re Cairo’s 1552 Jan 2. Fol represents present Dept views re interim arms program for Egypt. These views should not be considered as final since interim arms list itself (Deptel 4374 Jan 2)² still subj discussions in Defense and conversations London may bring new factors to bear on question.

Dept fully aware importance immediate if restrained arms assistance Naguib regime and tentative list such arms program had been largely drawn up. Arrival Egypt officers³ who apparently speak with auth has resulted in discussions which already have led to extensive if not total revision police equipment list as well as previously conceived interim assistance list. It is believed that if polit developments re Egypt warrant, we will also be able make available expanded arms program based on 12 month period.

Interim arms program which it is believed wld be composed certain items amounting to about $10 million or 1/3 potential 12 month program and which cld be made available shipment 60 to 90 days, in Dept’s thinking wld constitute overt gesture of confidence in Naguib which Dept believes important. Among earliest releasable items agreeable to Egypt team wld be armored cars, helmets and jeeps.

Calculated risk of possible later large scale arms shipment Egypt wld be minimized by attempt coordinate arms shipment over and above interim program with progress negots with Egypt since Dept believes that up to point arms deliveries have some bargaining significance.

To summarize: Subj further discussion Dept Defense and possibility new factors arising from London in talks Dept considers interim arms program as being distinct from long-range arms assistance, which latter wld accompany Egypt cooperation NE defense and wld be discussed with Egypts only in context of negots re such cooperation. Interim program now near finalization, however nr complicating factors not least of which are changes in Egypt requests as well as gen problem NE area relationships must be taken into account. London talks shld be most helpful to Dept in making final decision this regard.

This tel being sent in attempt to clarify situation as viewed Dept. Above position represents Dept’s views only and does not attempt speak for Defense or DMS, which will be consulted further fol conclusion London talks.

Acheson

1. Repeated priority to Cairo as telegram 1324.
2. In telegram 4374 to London, Jan. 2, not printed, the Department provided Assistant Secretary of State Byroade with a tentative arms list which was serving as the basis of discussions in Washington with two Egyptian officers representing General Naguib. The Department informed Byroade that the Egyptians had indicated a preference for the United States, as opposed to the United Kingdom, as their major source of arms. The Department, however, also told Byroade that the substantive American positions on the British conception of arms assistance as reported in telegram 3610 from London, Document 1062, still had to await the receipt of further information gained from the talks in London. Therefore, the attached list of American arms was being sent to London to help Byroade determine how far British and American policies regarding arms assistance for Egypt could be brought into line. (774.5 MSP/1–253)
3. Squadron Leader Ali Sabry and Lt. Col. Aly H. Niklawy.