Office of the Historian

146. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State1

Cairo,July 3, 1955—1 p.m.

24. Eyes only for Secretary. Have received for comment draft text possible public statement by you re Arab-Israeli situation2 which suggestions are made along lines of Alpha project. Will inform Department by separate message reasons why I believe such a statement will be counter-productive in Middle East generally. Will also forward such comments as we have on text, although these relatively unimportant if decision actually made to proceed with that type statement.

I hope you will not conclude that you personally should make statement containing suggested methods of settlement of Arab-Israeli matters. I say this because I do not like to look forward to extreme criticism of you personally which I am certain would follow. This I believe would be case in Middle East generally regardless of how reasonable statement might be in your eyes or of well-intentioned motivation. Things are not going well out here as you know but I retain conviction expressed to you prior my departure that our greatest asset in Arab world is feeling that both you and the President personally are trying be fair and just. I fear if statement made by you increasing and vicious propaganda will do much to change this regard for highest level officials our administration.

Byroade
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/7–355. Top Secret; Priority; Alpha. Received at 2:22 p.m.↩
  2. Jernegan informed Byroade and Lawson in letters dated June 22 that Dulles had decided to launch the Alpha project by making a public statement, probably around August 1, on the Arab-Israeli situation, and that the British planned to issue a supporting statement. He enclosed copies of the draft statement and requested their comments. (Ibid.,NEA Files: Lot 59 D 518, Alpha—Memos, etc., beginning after 2nd London Talks—April 26–June 30, ’55) The draft, dated June 18, was a revised version of the draft which Russell sent to Dulles on June 15 (see footnote 9, Document 120). Copies of both drafts are in Department of State,S/S–NEA Files: Lot 61 D 417, Alpha Volume 4.↩