Office of the Historian

774.56/5–553: Telegram

No. 1152
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State1

secret
priority
London, May 5, 1953—noon.

5929. Following is abbreviated text British aide-mémoire regarding Egyptian arms supply, handed me yesterday by Selwyn Lloyd:

“HMG have studied list of arms which USG propose offer Egyptian Government, given in aide-mémoire which US Embassy was good enough hand Foreign Office April 15.2

“As Embassy aware, HMG do not consider offer or supply of important quantities of arms to Egypt at this moment will be conducive to success of negotiations now proceeding Cairo, a success as important to free world as whole, including United States, as to UK. They would much prefer, therefore, that no firm offers of equipment should be made to Egyptian Government until it is clear that latter seriously intend cooperate with free world in defense of strategic area of ME. They would hope that United States Government could at last delay any decision to make equipment available by protracting discussions with representatives of Egyptian Government.

“HMG would see particular objection to early supply of tanks, armored cars or ammunition of type listed in Embassy’s aide-mémoire. It there appeared that armored cars to be supplied would be for delivery within 45 days and tanks and some of ammunition for delivery within one year. This conflicts with what HMG Ambassador at Washington had previously understood from United States Secretary of State, that is, that none of these items would in any [Page 2056] case reach Egypt for at least another year. HMG very much hope this statement by Secretary of State still holds good if, despite objections mentioned in preceding paragraph, any offer made to Egyptian Government.”

Foreign Office states assurances mentioned final paragraph were given Makins by Secretary on February 19.3 We have reminded Foreign Office that, in response similar statement Foreign Officer’s aide-mémoire March 17, Embassy replied in aide-mémoire March 25 (Embassy’s despatch 4963, March 25)4 that armored cars are for 45–day delivery. Foreign Office says it noted conflict with Secretary’s assurances at time but did not raise it because of news that new list would be forwarded soon as result study Egyptian comments on February 13 list.

Aldrich
  1. Repeated priority to Cairo as telegram 313.↩
  2. See telegram 6804 to London, Document 1144.↩
  3. Not printed.↩
  4. The despatch under reference is actually telegram 4563 from London, Mar. 25, not printed. (774.56/3–2553) In regard to the aide-mémoire of Mar. 17 and 25, see telegram 5207, Document 1129, and telegram 6321, Document 1130.↩