774.5/4–1053: Telegram
No. 1141
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
2222. 1. At “cloak and dagger” meeting yesterday with Creswell Fawzi agreed to go ahead on basis suggested by British (Embtel 2216, repeated London 727). They agreed tentatively that talks should begin April 20. They foresaw that at initial meetings UK would be represented by Stevenson, General Robertson, and possibly Creswell; Egypt by Fawzi, Naguib and “some military officers.” Purpose early meeting would be to define terms of reference for subcommittees composed of British and Egyptian officers. Creswell said April 20 based on date when Stevenson might be out of hospital; [Page 2046] he thinks Egyptians might wait few days or longer for Stevenson. (Comment: When I saw Stevenson today at hospital he told me that he might not be out before April 24.) General Robertson departed yesterday for London to consult War Office and Prime Minister re talks.
2. Creswell was less happy about Fawzi’s ideas re “neutral form of words” (paragraph 2, Embtel 2211, April 8) and it is uncertain whether London will go along with Fawzi’s ideas. Fawzi suggested “outstanding military questions” in communiqué with further explanation by Egypt that this means “all aspects of the evacuation problem.” Creswell persuaded Fawzi to make this “all aspects and implications of the evacuation problem” but he is not sure that “implications” will stick. Fawzi told him that “any mention of joint defense is impossible;” Creswell again warned Fawzi that if Egypt asserts that discussions deal with evacuation only British would have to make clear their five point position in House of Commons.
- Repeated to London as telegram 729 and unnumbered to Paris for Reinhardt, to Rome for Unger, to Ankara, and to the Arab capitals.↩