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

774.5/3–3053: Telegram

No. 1136
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Department of State¹

secret

Cairo, March 30, 1953—3 p.m.

2162. Egypt as predicted mytel 2153² consider British proposal for negotiations on five points of package deal completely unacceptable.

In lengthy discussion last night between Embassy officer and Lt. Colonel Nasir and Majors Salah Salim and Hakim Amir following facts emerged:

1. Nasir stands almost alone in RCC in urging continuing attempt to arrive at negotiated settlement with British. He himself has little hope of success but wishes leave no course untried.

2. Egyptians allege that British performance in Sudan (Embtel 2163)³ is rapidly convincing them that any base agreement reached with British would soon prove unworkable.

3. “Impossible” British proposal coming directly on heels of President’s letter to Naguib looked to Egyptians like collusion between Washington and London. This illusion was dispelled by Embassy Officer.

Although net effect of Creswell–Selwyn Lloyddémarche on Suez has been further to convince Egyptians that British will never peacefully quit their territory on terms acceptable to Egypt I am hopeful that Colonel Nasir will carry the day with his colleagues to the extent that they will make an acceptable counterproposal.

Egyptians made it clear however that they consider British “enemies. as long as they remain in Egypt by force and that they cannot agree to cooperate militarily with British as a condition for evacuation of Egyptian territory. (“This is blackmail”.) Under these circumstances Egyptians say Naguib regime is not prepared to stop “mobilizing. Egyptian people while undertaking lengthy and perhaps fruitless negotiations with British.

Caffery

1. Repeated to London as telegram 718.
2. Not printed; see footnote 3, Document 1134.
3. Not printed.