641.74/12–1153: Telegram
No. 1251
The Ambassador in the United
Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of
State1
2559. With concurrence Eden, who met at Foreign Office with advisers regarding Egypt on returning today, British Embassy Washington is being instructed inform Department that availability formula suggested to Eden at Bermuda (Department telegram 638, repeated London 3041) does not appear adequate, at least in present form. British feel that merely referring to “application” of Charter and Uniting for Peace resolution would not ensure that the base would be made immediately available. Moreover, they have recently received indications from Cairo that Egyptians may be coming round to accepting earlier British formula in which specific reference to “global war” was made and which would fully meet British requirements.
British are “delighted” and “heartened” by Secretary’s conversation with Egyptian Ambassador (Department telegram 649 to Cairo [Page 2170] repeated London 3095) of which they learned from British Embassy Washington.
Stevenson, who left yesterday for Egypt, is not carrying any new proposals regarding Suez talks, but was instructed to sound Egyptians out of an early date along lines proposals put forward by British at October 21 meeting.
Eden is meeting this afternoon with Conservative back-benchers (Embassy telegram 2534)2 in effort allay their fears.