641.74/8–853: Telegram
No. 1211
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
secret
Cairo, August 8, 1953—3
p.m.
187. British Embassy expanded as follows today regarding Anglo-Egyptian talk August 6 (Embassy’s 177, August 7):2
[Page 2127]- (1)
- Egyptians requested British ideas regarding Egyptian proposals in Naguib–Eisenhower correspondence. Therefore, Robertson set forth general British attitude towards these. Egyptians listened, but did not comment.
- (2)
- Reorganization base United Kingdom accepted idea Egyptian commander assisted by British technical adviser. Neither side was sure what title latter should have. (Fawzi told me Egyptians prefer “technical assistant”) both sides agreed that his functions would have to be defined with care.
- (3)
- United Kingdom expressed view that base would require communications center of some kind and that some messages would have to be in code. (Egyptians agreed that this was problem to be worked out along with that of communication channel.)
- (4)
- British, without obtaining any Egyptian reactions, outlined reasons why British technicians in base should wear uniforms. (Fawzi told me Egyptians might give in on this.)
- (5)
- Egyptians asked British views regarding length of time technicians would remain; British replied that this was question related to duration of agreement itself.
- (6)
- Regarding duration agreement, Egyptians stated 10 years far too long; British replied three years impossibly short. British consider this question left open. (Fawzi told me Egyptians might go to five.)
- (7)
- Regarding availability United Kingdom advanced formula discussed Washington and directed attention to the aspects to which President Eisenhower attached particular importance. Egyptians plainly did not like this formula, but reserved their position. British believe this question was left for further consideration and discussion.
Caffery