439. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State1
45. Had long talk with Hussein at Alexandria on Sunday which, not reported as we covered same ground as in previous talks. Immediately thereafter Hussein spent 8 hours with Nasser at Borg Elarab.
Nasser asked Hussein to return quickly to Washington to try convince Secretary to go ahead with High Dam. He probably leaving here Friday.2 Nasser said he wanted very much to resume negotiations with the West and gave impression that changes Egypt had suggested to US and UK aide-mémoires not really important (said some changes necessary to correspond to changes made in agreement with Bank) and that if US and UK wished proceed language should not be great difficulty. Hussein told him he believed one cause of delay by the West was fear that Egypt might be planning subsequent participation by Russians in project. Nasser became a bit irked at this, reminded Hussein he had told me some months ago that this would not be the case (this I reported3), and reiterated that there was no question of Soviet participation in project blocked out with Black.
Much of conversation was straightforward advice from Hussein on internal matters which seemed to impress Nasser. As regards foreign affairs, Nasser says he truly wishes be a friend of US. He irritated that we seem believe reports that he is working against us here and there in specific areas in Arab world and will not take his word that he is not. Says he has no desire to see US lose its airbases in this area and he is not taking any measures that direction. Similarly he is not working against oil interests of US and British.
He became quite stirred up at one point, mentioning specific cases in which officials in other governments were lying to our officials for purpose of their own gain, but said it was not his job to report these things specifically to US Government. Said he had heard we felt he was urging other countries recognize Red China and mentioned specifically Libya this regard. He offered upon return to Cairo to show Hussein cable traffic with Libya on this subject to prove this was not the case.
[Page 807]Will not go into greater detail as Hussein leaving soon to report in person. Would urge that Secretary allocate sufficient time to let Hussein fully convey his impressions. Believe Department agrees with me that he will do this honestly.
Other subjects: Nasser said he did not expect any special results from Brioni meetings. As regards currency and water division talk with the Sudan he gave impression these could be brought to agreement quickly and without too much difficulty.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 874.2614/7–1056. Secret. Received at 3:27 p.m. Repeated to London, Addis Ababa, Belgrade, and Khartoum.↩
- July 13.↩
- See Document 1.↩