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

641.74/7–2754: Telegram

No. 1347
The Ambassador in Eygpt (Caffery) to the Department of State¹

secret
niact

Cairo, July 27, 1954—10 a.m.

113. British Secretary for War tells me that at meeting last night with Egyptians he told them after due consideration British Government prepared to accept 7–year duration period, to omit Persia, but must have 20–months evacuation period. After consultation among themselves Egyptians indicated they would accept these terms.

There was considerable bargaining on minor points about which agreement was reached.

British and Egyptians will be meeting together in few minutes when Head hopes that terms of agreement will be initialed.²

Caffery

1. Repeated priority to London as telegram 28.
2. Ambassador Caffery reported in telegram 115, July 27, not printed, that the “Heads of Agreement” document was to be initialed at 9 p.m. that evening in Cairo, and that the text of the agreement was available at the British Embassy in Washington. (641.74/7–2754)