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

641.74/6–1153: Telegram

No. 1182
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt¹

top secret

Washington, June 11, 1953—4:28 p.m.

2346. Egyptian Ambassador orally informed Department June 10 his Government, after long deliberations Cairo, has taken decisions listed below. Action is result questions informally put to Ambassador previously by Department.

1. Assure US RCC will maintain quiet at least until after Bermuda conference. This done in awareness importance allowing US exert its influence for Canal Zone settlement under best possible conditions.

2. Give unqualified guarantee to British re shipment British supplies from Suez Base anywhere, anytime at British discretion. Form of guarantee would pose no problem to Egyptians.

3. Undertake in writing that Base will be available to “Egypt’s Allies and to Allies of Egypt’s Allies in case of land attack on frontiers of any Arab nation.” Although not specific, Ambassador gave impression Egypt would prefer open agreement.

4. Once agreement reached on Base, to invite publicly US and UK military and economic technicians to discuss informally military and economic plans with Egyptian Government. Ambassador added “politicians” would be excluded.

Department considers above represents considerable advance by Egypt towards resolving Canal Zone problem. Large area agreement now appears exist between Egyptian position and US suggestions to UK. Accordingly US in stronger position to urge favorable British consideration US proposals. Egyptian decisions should in no way be made known to British at present.

Broader agreement on availability of Base still required. Embassy Cairo requested stress on appropriate occasions US conviction any general war will embrace Middle East regardless where starts. From military viewpoint essential use all facilities from beginning instead of leaving initiative to aggressor and delaying protective measures (full reactivation of Base) until area actually attacked. Officers of RCC should understand military logic this argument.²

Dulles

1. Repeated to London as telegram 7879. Drafted by Burdett and approved by Byroade.
2. Ambassador Caffery in telegram 2562, June 12, not printed, indicated his agreement with the contents of this final paragraph of Department telegram 2346 and added that the Embassy would continue to stress this view in the future. (641.74/6–1253)