Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1955, Volume XIV

222. Memorandum of a Conversation Between Francis H. Russell and Willy Morris of the British Embassy, Department of State, Washington, August 25, 1955¹

Washington, August 25, 1955

SUBJECT

• Reports of Egyptian Attacks to be Launched on Sinai Front

Mr.Morris called me around 3 a.m. this morning and said he had a message from Cairo that he thought I would wish to see at once. I met him shortly at the Department. He showed me a telegram which the British Embassy had just received from Cairo,² the substance of which was that there were reports that the Egyptian army command were considering launching a series of attacks on the Sinai front today.

Mr.Morris and I agreed that because of the nature of the reports it would be better for any communication from the Department to Ambassador Byroade to be sent through the British Embassy in Cairo. Accordingly, after discussing the matter with Mr.Jernegan on the telephone, I asked Mr.Morris if he would send the message to Byroade³ which is referred to in the attached letter.⁴

This afternoon Mr.Morris called again. He had a telegram from London² which expressed doubt that the Egyptian Government would launch attacks in view of their advance information about the Secretary’s statement but leaving it to the discretion of the UK Ambassador, in consultation with Byroade, whether an approach should be made or not.

Mr.Morris also had a telegram from Cairo² which said that Byroade, having failed to see Nasser, spoke to Abdel Hakim Amer, Minister of Defense and Chief of Armed Forces.Byroade said that Washington had informed him there were rumors there that hostilities had broken out or were about to break out.Hakim Amer told Byroade that all was quiet but that he would make a check to be certain. The telegram concludes by saying that unless Amer is prevaricating—which would be quite out of character—it looks as though plans for attack have been called off.

1. Source: Department of State,NEA Files: Lot 59 D 518, Alpha—Memos and corres., July 1–Aug. 26 (day of Secy’s speech). Secret. Drafted by Russell.
2. No copy of this telegram has been found in Department of State files.
3. No copy of this message has been found in Department of State files.
4. (Attached to copy circulating G[eorge] V. A[llen]–J[ohn] D. J[ernegan]–F[raser] W[ilkins], marked for return to WCBurdett’s files.) [Footnote in the source text. The letter was not attached to the source text nor found elsewhere in Department of State files.]
2. No copy of this telegram has been found in Department of State files.
2. No copy of this telegram has been found in Department of State files.