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

641.74/10–353: Telegram

No. 1226
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Department of State¹

secret

Cairo, October 3, 1953—3 p.m.

396. Reference mytel 388 October 1.² On “availability” Egyptians proposed to British at this morning’s meeting that they place following phrase at beginning of formula: “Having in mind charter of UN”. They refused British version of reference to UN (London’s telegram 745 August 21)³ as involving sweeping rights of re-entry.

They agreed, however, to “extend system of consultation to danger of global war”.

Re Suez, Egyptians agreed to modify their proposed formula in direction desired by British.

They clashed again on uniforms, British insisting on British uniforms with slight tab variations; Egyptians insisting technicians could not be in British uniforms or uniforms looking like British uniforms, but they would accept some other uniform.

In view evident strain meeting lasted only 40 minutes. They are to meet together, however, on Wednesday next.

In another conversation with Embassy officer, Nasir repeated what Fawzi told me and added that Egyptians made it clear to British that they would only grant automatic right of re-entry of base in case of attack on one of Arab States. Egyptians declined further discussion on this point and on use of British-type uniforms for technicians. Since they suggested that British produce their word these subjects at next meeting. Nasir alleges there may be early breakdown. I will of course endeavor to prevent this.

Caffery

1. Repeated to London as telegram 146 and unnumbered to Ankara, Paris for Reinhardt, and to Rome for Maffitt.
2. Not printed.
3. See footnote 3, Document 1213.