261. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State1
2021. FYI only. In view fact commandos normally operate without communications equipment effective cease fire most unlikely next 48 hours. I am now convinced on excellent authority that if Israelis stage another attack against Egyptian forces in retaliation for current Egyptian commando activities Egyptians will respond on scale which will substantially reduce possibility of avoiding full scale conflict. Request all addressees scrupulously observe FYI only restriction.
However I do think it important Israelis be advised we think war likely occur if they stage another Khan Yunis or similar strong attack against GOE forces and that only chance reducing danger full scale war lies in Israelis concentrating on countering commando activities and in achieving sufficient success to withstand pressure for second round retaliation.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/4–956. Top Secret; Niact; Noforn. Received at 5:10 p.m. Repeated niact to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Damascus, Amman, Beirut, Baghdad, London, Paris, and USUN. Passed to the Office of the Secretary of Defense.↩
- At 8 p.m. that evening, the Department transmitted
niact the following
instructions to Byroade:
“1. USG has made clear to Israelis at highest level on several occasions in past few weeks major reprisal raid could risk general outbreak hostilities.
“2. IG advises Department they conducting extensive operations against Fedayeen.
“3. You might wish suggest to GOE they advise Burns of willingness accept cease fire but practical problems involved require brief extension of time limit, as indicated reftel.” (Telegram 2024 to Cairo; ibid.)
Byroade responded in niact telegram 2024: “Have urged Nasser speak to Hammarskjold along line paragraph 3, reference telegram, and believe there good chance he may agree cease fire under these conditions.” (Telegram 2024, April 10; ibid., 674.84A/4–1056)
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