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

641.74/10–753: Telegram

No. 1228
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State¹

top secret
priority

London, October 7, 1953—7 p.m.

1490. At Eden’s instructions Foreign Office this afternoon gave Embassy following summary present UK position on Suez negotiations (Embtel 1474 October 7):²

1. Availability. This is most important outstanding issue and for domestic political as well as strategic reasons British can not accept base as being automatically available to them only in event attack on members Arab League collective security pact. British feel very strongly on this point and seem have impression Egyptians have retracted from original position of accepting in principle British formula re UN action to resist aggression. In this connection see paragraph 2 Deptel 1063 August 28.³

2. Duration. 18 months period for evacuation agreed, but Egyptians want evacuation commence as soon as agreement on principles of base agreement reached. Although UK not disposed give undertaking begin evacuation on such basis, UK might consider evacuation some troops when agreement reached.

3. Uniforms. British military feel strongly British soldiers must be able wear conventional British uniforms, i.e., UK unwilling make agreement eliminating uniforms. Re actual fact, however, British would probably agree soldiers when not on duty would be in mufti and even when on duty would probably be dressed in dungarees, or the like. British currently considering their position on this point and Foreign Office hopeful compromise may be reached.

4. Air staging post. UK needs air staging post both for (a. facilities for serving base, and (b) normal transit facilities. Foreign Office states UK most insist on such staging post, and that this and availability most crucial points.

5. Freedom of transit canal. Cabinet most insistent agreement either in preamble or body contain wording by which Egypt recognizes principle of freedom transit Suez Canal. UK wants legal peg on which hang case in event Egyptian violation. Also some such wording necessary if agreement to pass Parliament.

6. Inspectors. Details for final 2 1/2 year period of agreement’s duration during which 4000 technicians would be reduced to small number inspectors now being worked out.

7. British assistant to base commander. UK feels British technical assistant must be able give orders to British base technicians. Feels it of utmost importance that relationship between commander and British assistant be clearly understood by both parties.

Foreign Office expects today’s meeting in Cairo will cover only minor issues.

Aldrich

1. Repeated to Cairo as telegram 39.
2. Not printed; see footnote 2, supra.
3. Printed as telegram 239 to Cairo, Document 1214.