774.56/5–553: Telegram
No. 1151
The Ambassador in the United
Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of
State1
priority
5928. Last evening Selwyn Lloyd called me to Foreign Office and, at Churchill’s request, gave me Her Majesty’s Government’s comments, as outlined in my immediately following telegram, re latest United States arms list for Egypt. (Embtel 5899, May 2.)2 In emphasizing to me Her Majesty’s Government’s concern re United States supply of arms at this time, Lloyd also showed me partial list of incidents in Canal Zone since April 1, involving attacks on British service vehicles. I am also transmitting this list in second following telegram.
Lloyd emphasized that Her Majesty’s Government has been most anxious avoid publicity re these incidents, because of effect which they might have on British public opinion during present delicate state of negotiations in Cairo. Nevertheless, April 27 incident, involving death of British sergeant, has received some press attention and is subject of Parliamentary question which Minister of War will answer in Commons this afternoon. It is possible further incidents will come to public attention and, in this atmosphere, it would be most difficult for British public to understand why United States furnishing military assistance to Egypt at time when latter is behaving in this manner. Lloyd added in this connection that UK cannot prove official Egyptian complicity in all these incidents, but at least Egyptian Government has obligation to take appropriate steps to prevent them.
Comment: I feel that I must emphasize in strongest terms my concern from Anglo-American standpoint of our proceeding with supply of arms to Egypt until such time as it is much clearer than at present that Anglo-Egyptian agreement is in sight. If situation were reversed and these were United States troops being subjected to attacks by nationals of another country, I cannot believe United States official or public opinion could look with equanimity on British announcement re supply of arms to that country.
We have repeatedly assured British that we would withhold deliveries of arms if, at actual time of delivery, conditions are disturbed to degree which would render inadvisable delivery any type of equipment. It seems to me, however, that we have more immediate [Page 2055] problem involving public announcement any successful conclusion arms negotiations with Egypt at time such incidents as those outlined by Lloyd are taking place. I assume we could not, without nullifying any favorable effect in Egypt, publicly state at time of announcement that we have concluded arms agreement with Egypt but that we intend withhold delvieries as long as there is threat to security British forces. Yet only such a statement would, in my opinion, mitigate unfavorable impression here and lessen strain which I fear on United States–UK relations.
Given all aspects this problem, I strongly urge Department find some pretext for protracting negotiations until such time as Anglo-Egyptian agreement is clearly in sight.