Office of the Historian

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

Cairo,December 12, 1955—5 p.m.

1124. General tenor United States-Egyptian relations, including press treatment, on definite trend towards improvement. This believed largely due to present favorable publicity regarding forecast that United States will help on High Dam plus absence as yet of any word that United States may supply arms to Israel.

[Page 852]

It may be helpful for Department to have again in capsule form what we think would be results of furnishing Israel with substantial military equipment.

1.
Israeli security would not be enhanced but perhaps more seriously threatened. Egypt sure to increase orders to Czechoslovakia. Probability of flow of Soviet arms, either through Egypt or directly to other Arab States, particularly Syria and perhaps Saudi Arabia would increase. Pressure on Iraq adopt “Arab” policy would be resumed.
2.
As more arms are obtained from Soviet source, Arab feeling of gratitude for help of USSR will become more pronounced. This in contrast to bitterness that will be thrown at United States, because GOE and other Arabs will be convinced it our policy try to keep Israel stronger than Egypt. This could reach point where United States lives and property would be in jeopardy.
3.
Economic hold of Soviet bloc upon Egypt and perhaps other Arab States will be increased as result of further long range commitment Egyptian resources as per (1) above.
4.
Good effects of United States assistance on High Dam will be completely over-balanced, at least in short run, by supply of military equipment to Israel. While from viewpoint development of Egypt and standard of living of people High Dam is essential, emotions involved in what Arabs view as immediate security problem would take precedence over probably more vital but much less dramatic long-range economic considerations.

Am certain Department will keep factors such as above in mind in facing up to extremely difficult decision that has been forced upon us.

Byroade
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.74/12–1255. Secret. Received at 5:19 p.m. Repeated to London and Paris.↩