641.74/9–2453: Telegram
No. 1225
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
priority
361. Robertson and Hankey came to see me this morning to let me know yesterday’s meeting with Egyptians was most unsatisfactory. [Page 2141] Robertson brought up question of uniforms and a first class row ensued. There was disagreement also on various other secondary points.
I read Robertson and Hankey the first sentence of second paragraph of Deptel 63 July 152 to effect that British representatives at Washington conference indicated re uniforms “belief need not become major issue”. Robertson said that there was apparently a misunderstanding because British had not meant to convey any such impression. Uniforms is a sticking point. He said also Fawzi had indicated that “uniforms” need not be sticking point and he had so reported to London.
He said, furthermore, “I will lay my cards on table. We do not want a break on duration. If we break, we want to break on a point like uniforms or some other similar matter.”
He indicated furthermore, that he believes it more important at this juncture to obtain agreement to questions like uniforms than it is to obtain agreement to seven-year duration.
As meeting broke up with both sides in a huff, Egyptians left with no discussion of a future meeting date.
- Repeated to London as telegram 129.↩
- Printed as telegram 252 to London, Document 1204.↩