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

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 165

No. 1229
The Secretary of State to the Department of State¹

top secret

London, October 17, 1953—3 p.m.

Secto 20. Bilateral Foreign Ministers meeting morning October 17 discussed following:

1. Egypt:

Eden showed Secretary in greatest confidence latest draft on availability as approved by Cabinet, providing base would be made available in event (a) attack on Egypt (b) attack on any member ALCSP or (c) recommendation by UN that base should be made available in view aggression or threat aggression. Eden said this wording would be given Egyptians at Monday’s meeting.

Secretary said our information was Egyptians would agree to refer their responsibilities under both Charter and 1950 Uniting for Peace resolution² and suggested wording of latter (“in event of threat to peace, breach of peace or aggression”) be substituted under (c) above. British agreed consider this.

Eden continued UK were prepared to agree to (a) 15–month period for withdrawal of troops, which was “major concession”, (b) 7–year duration and (c) time schedule providing for 4,000 technicians for a year and a half, then 2,500 for 3 years and finally 1,000 in last year. Did not anticipate any great difficulty on either air facilities or base organization. On uniforms, however, there had been a long Cabinet discussion as result which finally agreed uniforms would never be worn outside base while inside they would not normally be worn but this would not be incorporated in formal agreement as UK unwilling give up right wear uniforms and carry weapons inside base. In actual practice uniforms would only be worn inside base on ceremonial occasions such as church parade, etc. Selwyn Lloyd added British hoped get Egyptians agree that inside base shirts, shorts, badges of rank and caps could be worn.

During considerable discussion which followed, Secretary expressed hope talks would not break down on uniform question. This he said, would be serious and have a bad effect on American public opinion. He wondered whether argument was not over words rather than substance. Eden replied question was important since if Naguib Government should be replaced by less friendly one, British might wish put its soldiers in uniform. Secretary concurred but added that if it was intended technicians would ordinarily not wear uniforms, he thought this should be made very clear, not simply stated orally.

Ambassador suggested there misunderstanding as to whether men in question were soldiers or technicians. Eden replied that they would be mainly engineers and actually soldiers. He hoped Egyptians might agree to British position, in view especially British concessions on initial evacuation and staging of technicians. Cabinet, however, was absolutely firm on uniforms and public opinion would not allow further concessions.

Eden said he thought latest UK proposals were “pretty good” and expressed hope that even if Egyptians did not accept them wholly Monday they would not break off talks. He hoped we would do our best prevent any break. Secretary assured Eden we would do all we could to help.

[Here follows discussion of the situation in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Kuwait.]

Dulles

1. Repeated to Cairo as telegram 43.

   The Secretary was in London primarily for the Tripartite Foreign Ministers meetings in October and November 1953. Regarding the Tripartite Foreign Ministers meetings in London, see the editorial note, vol. V, Part 2, p. 1709.

2. For documentation on the Uniting for Peace Resolution, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. II, pp. 303 ff.