641.74/9–1153: Telegram
No. 1219
The Ambassador in the United
Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of
State1
1067. Egyptian understanding of British position on duration issue (paragraph 2, Cairo’s 302, September 9) differs somewhat from British explanation of their position. Foreign Office informs us 10 year period should commence on ratification of agreement [Page 2135] (not from completion evacuation as suggested reference telegram) and would comprise following phases:
- 1.
- Year and half evacuation period (Foreign Office states 2 years more satisfactory but in last analysis would accept minimum of 18 months).
- 2.
- Three year period with 4,000 British technicians.
- 3.
- Two year period during which technicians would progressively decrease to 3,000.
- 4.
- Three and half year period during which base would be maintained under some formula developed by a Joint Anglo-Egyptian body reporting to two governments.
Training of Egyptians would commence at beginning of agreement. UK would also like provision permitting review of agreement at end 10 year period.
Embassy understands from Foreign Office that above formula never explained in detail to Egyptians because latter rejected conception 10 year agreement and refused listen to detailed elaboration of formula.
Difficult to say what would be minimum period politically acceptable in UK but three years for technicians would certainly not be as government considers it would be impossible explain satisfactorily to Parliament why UK accepted agreement terminating roughly same time as existing Anglo-Egyptian treaty and whose terms were greatly inferior. We also doubt that UK would accept six year period mentioned Cairo’s 293, September 6 on basis conversations with Foreign Office and reports of recent Cabinet meeting (Embassy telegram 1023, September 9)2 consider it probable that should Egypt suggest six year period UK would agree to 18 months, three years and three years respectively for first three phases above and drop phase four, thus making total duration of seven and one-half years from ratification.