Office of the Historian

114. Message to the Director of Central Intelligence (Dulles)1

No. 93
Cairo, February 22, 1956.

REFERENCE

  • Department outgoing message dated 20 February 1956 beginning “Please pass following to Ambassador from Acting etc.2
1.
As you remember, prior my departure Wash I raised possibility of suggesting to Nasr that we may be forced provide arms to Israel and I expressed view we might be able sell him other3 on basis “You take certain acts we do not like; you are going to have to live with our taking an act you don’t like”. In event Anderson mission fails I also speculated that it might be possible provide arms to Israel and get away with it in Arab States other than Egypt by somehow blaming the necessity for doing so on Egyptian misbehavior.
2.
Since arriving here this trip I am convinced these notions utterly unrealistic and that there is no possibility whatever Egyptians accept our providing arms to Israel in any amount. Unanimous opinion all of us here is that results will be:
A.
Immediate termination Anderson mission.
B.
Termination of High Dam negotiations with World Bank and possible substitution High Dam aid from Soviets.
C.
Conclusion further arms deal with Soviets and encouragement other Arab States do likewise.
  1. Source: Department of State, NEA Files: Lot 59 D 518, Alpha—Anderson Talks w/BG & Nasser. Incoming Telegrams—Jan.–March 1956. Part I. Secret.↩
  2. See the enclosure to Document 106.↩
  3. At this point in the source text, a handwritten [sic] was inserted, presumably in the Code Room, with the explanation: “as received”.↩