741.56374/5–1054: Despatch
No. 1331
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
No. 2658
Ref:
- Department’s CA–6247, April 30, 1954
Subject:
- New British Proposals on Suez Base
The draft of a possible “Memorandum of Understanding” enclosed with the Department’s Instruction under reference corresponds substantially with my understanding of the latest British position, insofar as that position has been spelled out to date.
The document cannot be said to reflect the current Egyptian position, which officially remains as stated in October 1953, but actually has been modified by Abd Al Nasir’s offer made to me in January to extend “availability” to include the case of an attack on Turkey, provided the British would give up their insistence on military uniforms for “technicians”. Whether or not an arrangement along the lines suggested would prove acceptable to Egypt is, however, another question. While the answer cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty, it is my opinion that an approach to the Egyptian Government on such a basis would be favorably received and would hold considerable promise of leading to an agreement.
The Department’s attitude on the question of United States association is the only realistic one which can be adopted. Any attempt to go farther in this regard would almost certainly provoke a strongly adverse Egyptian reaction. The draft memorandum in toto constitutes a much needed and eminently successful attempt to coordinate recent thinking regarding the Suez Base issue. I strongly recommend that the Department seek United Kingdom agreement to a statement along these lines as a basis for an early approach to Egypt.
- A copy of this despatch was sent to London.↩