397. Editorial Note
On June 15, at the 288th meeting of the National Security Council, with Vice President Nixon presiding, Allen Dulles, in his review of developments affecting United States security, presented a report on Soviet Foreign Minister Shepilov’s impending visit to Egypt. The memorandum of discussion reads as follows:
“Mr. Dulles pointed out that the new Soviet Foreign Minister, Shepilov, will visit Cairo on the 18th of June as the ranking visitor during the week of celebration to be staged in Cairo on the occasion of the British departure from the Suez base area. The arrangements for Shepilov’s visit had been worked out before he became Foreign Minister, and there is some evidence, said Mr. Dulles, that Nasser is slightly embarrassed over the fact that, despite his new status, Shepilov is nevertheless coming to Cairo. It is thought that Shepilov will bring pressure on the Egyptians to make some dramatic gesture during his visit. For example, Shepilov may try to induce the Egyptians to come to a new decision to accept Soviet assistance for the construction of the High Aswan dam. On this point Mr. Dulles added that this project is certain to cost a great deal more than the Egyptians have estimated to date.
“Secretary Humphrey interrupted to express the wish that the United States were out of the High Aswan dam project altogether. While the Egyptians are holding an option on our assistance on the dam project, they are shopping around to see if they can get a better bargain elsewhere.
“Continuing with his briefing, Mr. Dulles indicated that another possible Soviet move during Shepilov’s visit would be an official announcement of Soviet support for the 1947 UN resolution on the Israeli state. This would, of course, be very embarrassing to the West. Yet another possibility was the announcement of some kind of treaty of friendship between the Soviet Union on the one hand and Egypt and Syria on the other. In any event, concluded Mr. [Page 730] Dulles, fireworks were to be anticipated in the course of the visit.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)