Office of the Historian

641.74/1–2852: Telegram

No. 953
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Department of State1

secret
niact
London, January 28, 1952—2 a.m.

3259. Fol is text of tel from Eden to Stevenson. Eden has expressed to me hope that Caffery will be able give Stevenson full support in premises.

  • “1. According to a press report King Farouk had dismissed Nahas and called on Ali Maher to form a govt.
  • “2. However the policies of the new govt may develop it must be a gain to be rid of the Wafd. We would wish to do everything in our power to reach agreement with the new govt. We are perfectly ready to undertake discussions at once on the basis of four-power proposals without any prior commitment to their acceptance. We could only do this with real hope of success if Egyptian Govt on their side would do all in their power to call a halt to terrorist activities and of course refrain from such anti-Brit measures as rupture of relations or expulsion of Brit subjects. I leave it to your judgment how to play the hand but if new Egyptian Govt will meet you on these conditions, you could indicate to them that within the above framework, the position of HMG is as stated in fol para:
  • “3. In present circumstances HMG must maintain their position in the Canal Zone and will continue to do so. HMG wish to make it perfectly clear, however, that they have no wish to maintain indefinitely British troops in the Canal Zone contrary to the wishes of the Egyptian Govt. It is their sincere desire to reach agreement with the Egyptian Govt on arrangements for the adequate defense of the Canal Zone which will provide for a gradual assumption of responsibilities by the Egyptian armed forces. If the Egyptian Govt wld agree to discuss matters HMG are confident that such an agreement could be reached.
  • “4. If Egyptian Govt were on their part prepared to refrain from the anti-Brit measures referred to and to seek to call a halt to terrorist activities, I shld be prepared publicly to state our policy in the terms set out in the preceding para.
  • “5. In all these matters we should, of course, continue to work closely with our American and other allies”.
Gifford
  1. Sent to Cairo as telegram 148 and repeated to the Department.↩