Office of the Historian

99. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State1

London,May 19, 1955—6 p.m.

5099. Foreign Office very concerned over latest Gaza incidents but is awaiting further details before deciding what action if any HMG should take. Foreign Office shares Ambassador Lawson’s anxieties (Tel Aviv’s 9662) regarding Israeli reaction to Egyptian refusal participate high level talks. In fact, some days ago Foreign Office suggested to Ambassador Stevenson in Cairo that he raise matter with Egyptians and urge them agree to talks.Stevenson, however, reported that he and Byroade both doubt advisability approaching Government of Egypt in present circumstances.

Foreign Office has asked Stevenson reconsider matter.3

Butterworth
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/5–1955. Secret. Received at 6:50 p.m. Repeated to Cairo, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Paris, Baghdad, and Jidda.↩
  2. Lawson expressed his fear to the Department on May 16 that the Israelis would react unfavorably to Egypt’s refusal to participate in high-level talks; he believed that the consequence would be a “further weakening Sharett’s moderation position within Cabinet”; and he predicted that the Israelis would try to exploit to the fullest the Egyptians’ refusal to cooperate with the U.N. Truce Supervision Organization. (Ibid., 674.84A/5–1655)↩
  3. Byroade informed the Department that Stevenson had seen Nasser on May 19, that Nasser was “intensely bitter and suspicious of Israel and objective conversation most difficult.”Nasser did tell Stevenson, however, that he would give the matter of high-level talks some more thought. (Telegram 1749 from Cairo, May 20,ibid., 674.84A/5–2055)↩