Office of the Historian

92. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State1

Cairo, February 11, 1956—3 p.m.

1559. Reference Embassy telegram 1554.2 British Embassy reports Ambassador Trevelyan asked Fawzi February 7 whether Egypt could exert its influence to persuade Arab States accept Johnston Plan. Fawzi replied:

(1)
Present time most unpropitious;
(2)
If Ambassador Johnston were to come to Cairo and fail obtain Arab concurrence situation would be even worse than now;
(3)

Egypt intended, however, sound out chances for Arab adoption plan in forthcoming conversations with Jordanians.

British Embassy very dubious chances Arab acceptance Johnston Plan. Their views based on:

(a)
Jordanian Foreign Minister’s conversation with Ambassador Duke which although less “bellicose” than that with Rifai reported Amman’s 4143 was apparently equally categoric,
(b)
Internal conditions in Syria,
(c)
Inability Egypt no matter how much it might wish avoid hostilities effectively persuade Jordan and Syrian Governments that their acceptance plan would obtain popular support in those countries.

Byroade
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1580/2–1156. Secret. Received at 2:01 a.m., February 12. Repeated to Damascus, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Jidda, Tel Aviv, London, Paris, Ankara, Tehran, Jerusalem, and USUN.↩
  2. Hart had reported in telegram 1554 from Cairo, February 10, that the previous evening Fawzi expressed “his concern over crisis which would result if Israel recommenced work in D.Z. at Banat Yacub. Asking that he not be quoted he stated in substance: ‘it is not that we are afraid but there is no use in having a fight if we can avoid it. We are therefore undertaking conversations with each Arab State to urge that further consideration be given to “Johnston plan”.’” (Ibid., 120.1580/2–1056)↩
  3. Document 83.↩