293. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State1
528. Department telegram 5492 contains clear cut presentation Department thinking we have been seeking.
Shortly after its arrival Hussein came to see me at Nasser’s request.Nasser wanted me to know that he appreciated my efforts of past to convince him it unwise move on Egypt’s part make arms deal with Russia. He knew my feelings this regard were sincere. For that reason he wished me to know that arms deal was now accomplished fact and would not be changed. It was in the nature of a commercial arrangement and he would take every precaution minimize its political implication. Things had reached point where he could not hold off revolution in Army if he did not accept. Others would replace him but only with support of Army which would have been gained by accepting Russia’s offer. This would have dramatized affair making implications, he felt, even worse from our point of view. There was one point however on which he thought we honestly disagreed, and that was Egypt’s desire to negotiate on or deal with, if this should become necessary, the Israeli problem [Page 498] from a position of strength instead of weakness. He had read enough about our philosophy in the East–West situation to hope that this would be understandable to United States.
I made no substantive comment to Hussein on Nasser’s message.Nasser has asked him to depart shortly for Washington in effort see Egyptian action not misunderstood.
My own view is that Nasser probably could not have survived turning down Russian offer in absence assurance assistance of military nature from United States. Had he nonetheless attempted to do so while at same time trying to move forward on Arab-Israeli settlement he would certainly have negotiated himself out of power. This appraisal does not in my opinion reflect weakness on part of Nasser but situation in Egypt on this subject since February 28.
My latest information is that formal announcement of acceptance Russian offer will probably be avoided. We are refusing comment on press inquiries here and will forward in due course such thoughts as we have on suggested reaction on our part.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 774.56/9–2155. Secret; Priority. Received at 10:11 p.m. Repeated to London.↩
- Document 289.↩