378. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State1
2365. Information from different sources today added up to interesting picture.
In general discussion with Hussein he was speculating on type of statement Nasser might make which if followed through with concrete action would serve to reassure West. At one point discussion [Page 696] I mentioned Nasser’s intentions regarding Israel. Hussein said Nasser extremely sensitive this point as he thought British activity against him so extreme that they would lose no opportunity discredit him in other Arab States. Any moderation on his part on this subject they would see to it was used discredit him for being “soft” on Israel. Told Hussein I could visualize conditions where United Kingdom might not be alone in thinking it in general interest to counteract Nasser outside Egypt, but could not conceive of British using this one as they shared our keen desire to see conditions created to make settlement possible.
… Was informed that Nasser had found out we had told British about Anderson mission and that Selwyn Lloyd had in turn told Said Nuri. He, Nasser, had found out of this breach of confidence through sources in Iraq.
This fairly serious for 2 reasons: It shows Nasser’s impression as to how far British will now go to “get him”. More important as far as we concerned is serious breach of confidence on a matter in which he had placed himself with considerable risk in our hands and in the hands of Ben Gurion.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/5–3056. Top Secret; Omega Handling; Limit Distribution. Received at 2:45 p.m. Transmitted under cover of a separate memorandum on June 1 to Allen Dulles. (Ibid., S/S–NEA Files: Lot 61 D 417, Omega #6)↩
- At the end of this telegram, Wilkins wrote on the source text: “I do not have impression Nasser has ever been in Bob’s [Anderson] hands.”↩