641.74/7–1153: Telegram
No. 1202
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State
niact
44. Following is Naguib’s letter to President referred to my telegram 35:
[Page 2116]“My Dear Friend: In view of the desire expressed on several occasions by yourself and by your Secretary of State, Mr. John Foster Dulles, to be of assistance in bringing about Anglo-Egyptian settlement, consultations have taken place between our diplomatic representatives. I trust that His Excellency, Mr. Jefferson Caffery, is keeping you informed as to the basis on which the Egyptian Government would be prepared to conclude an agreement with the British Government concerning the Suez Canal base.
I wish to point out that in making these suggestions Egypt is motivated by a sincere desire to reach a peaceful settlement on the issues now standing between her and Great Britain in order that new foundation may be laid for cooperation with the peace-loving powers in an effective defense Egypt and her Arab allies. I can assure you that if a satisfactory settlement can be reached, Egypt will cooperate loyally with her friends and allies to this end and, with their assistance, will be prepared to do her full part in building the military strength and economic and social stability which is indispensable to the achievment of security in the Middle East.
In order that there may be no misunderstanding in the future and so that you may not think me unreasonable, I must point out that the Egyptian Government’s willingness to conclude an agreement concerning the Suez Canal base in conditional upon simultaneous agreement on the other questions as set out below.
- First, there must be a satisfactory agreement with the British Government on the immediate evacuation of all British personnel in the Canal Zone, with the exception of the minimum required number of technicians whose presence during a limited period we accept.
- Secondly, while we are prepared to agree to consultations for the building up of Egypt’s economic and military strength, we cannot ask my people to accept the presence of British technicians and a commitment as regards the availability of the base with nothing to show for it in return except a vague assurance that the United States and Great Britain will confer on ‘measures to strengthen Egypt militarily and economically’.
It is essential, therefore, that simultaneously with the signing of agreements on evacuation and the future of the base, there be firm undertakings and specific commitments to forthwith furnish Egypt with such military equipment and other assistance as may concommitantly be agreed. It should be understood that this will constitute a first step in the re-equipment of the Egyptian Army, and establishment of military industries which shall be carried out, in accordance with terms to be agreed upon.
In closing I must say that we are greatly relying upon your frequently-expressed sentiments of friendship and support for Egypt’s right to be a fully free and independent state. You will recognize that the position I have outlined marks a great effort on Egypt’s part to reach an agreement which would be satisfactory by all.
Such an agreement can be acceptable to the Egyptian people only if reciprocal good will of equivalent magnitude is shown. These proposals do not represent a bargaining position and any attempt to treat them as such will only convince us that Egypt’s earnest [Page 2117] desire for a prompt, honorable and peaceful settlement is not reciprocated.
Please believe me to be ever, your friend, Mohammed Naguib.”1
- The Department in telegram 45 to Cairo on July 11, not printed, instructed Ambassador Caffery to inform Naguib that the President had received his letter, and that he would reply in due course. (641.74/7–1153)↩