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

774.00/7–2152

No. 994
Memorandum by Alta F. Fowler of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs to the Officer in Charge of Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Affairs (Stabler)

secret

Washington , July 21, 1952.

Subject:

• Weekly Summary of Events, Egypt and the Sudan, July 15–21, 1952

Second Change of Government Within Three Weeks

It was announced over the weekend that Sirry Pasha had extended his resignation to the King.¹ On Monday, July 21, after 36 hours of waiting, the King’s acceptance of the resignation was announced. Reports from our Embassy in Cairo indicate that the reason for Sirry’s resignation stems from a discussion over control of army policy. This dissension was brought to a head by attempts to force acceptance of Palace favorite Major General Sirry Amer as a member of the Board of the Officers’ Club and resistance against this by Board members under the leadership of Club President Major General Muhammad Nagib. The King took a hand in support of his favorite by replacing the elected Board with a new nominated Board, headed by Major General Ali Nagib, brother of Muhammad. Ousted members of the old elected Board immediately contacted officers in Cairo, Alexandria, Al Aris and Manzabad where excited barracks room meetings of junior officers were held. A last minute attempt to soothe the discontented officers was made when Muhammad Nagib was offered the cabinet post as Minister of War, which he refused. Sirry Pasha went to the King to persuade him to withdraw his support of Sirry Amer and the July 16 order (which abolished the elected Board). This the King refused to do without also dismissing Muhammad Nagib, whom he considered one of the ringleaders against the King’s influence in the army. Sirry tendered his resignation and the King later accepted it.

There are no indications as yet as to who will be called upon to be the new prime minister.²

Sirry’s Program

Prior to his resignation, Sirry Pasha in an interview with UP had outlined his Government’s program as including:

(1) Resumption of Anglo-Egyptian negotiations;

(2) Concentration on the country’s economic problems;

(3) Non-violation of the Constitution and hence “100 per cent free” elections; and

(4) Continuation of martial law “as long as necessary.”

Our Embassy comments that while Sirry was noncommittal or evasive in handling questions on Egypt’s participation in Middle East defense, he did not respond to such questions with the usual restatement of national aims as a precondition for Egyptian participation.

1. On July 21, Secretary Acheson informed President Truman of the facts surrounding the resignation of Sirry Pasha as Prime Minister of Egypt. (774.13/7–2152)

   For documentation regarding the coverage of this crisis, see Department of State files 641.74, 774.00, and 774.13

2. In telegrams 126 and 129 from Cairo, July 21, neither printed, Ambassador Caffery reported that, to the amazement of all in Cairo, Hilali Pasha announced his willingness to become Prime Minister once again. (774.00/7–2152)