138. Editorial Note

At noon in London, August 28, the Egyptian Ambassador in the United Kingdom, Samy Aboul-Fetouh, delivered to Prime Minister Menzies a note from President Nasser, in which the Egyptian President acknowledged receipt of Menzies’ message of August 24 and agreed to the proposed meeting as requested by the Committee. (Suez Committee doc. No. SC/D/4; Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 762) The text of response was transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 1113, August 28. (Ibid., Central Files, 974.7301/8–2856) Telegram 1113 was received in the Department of State at 8:59 a.m.

The Suez Committee then met at 2:45 p.m. in London that day and agreed that Menzies would see the Egyptian Ambassador as [Page 306] soon as possible and ask him to inform Nasser via telephone that the Committee preferred to meet in a place not directly involved, such as Geneva, but would go to Egypt if Nasser could not meet at a place outside his country. Also, the Committee proposed to leave London on August 31 with a view to commencing talks with Nasser as soon as possible thereafter. (Telegram 1117, August 28; ibid., 974.7301/8–2856) Following the meeting, Menzies formally notified Aboul-Fetouh of the Committee’s wishes. (Suez Committee doc. No SC/D/11; ibid., Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 762)

At 7 p.m., August 29, Aboul-Fetouh delivered to Menzies a letter which conveyed Nasser’s proposal to meet with the Committee in Cairo on Monday, September 3. (Suez Committee doc. No. SC/D/17; ibid.) Menzies responded in a letter to Aboul-Fetouh, written on August 29 and delivered on August 30, that the Committee of Five Powers was happy to concur in Nasser’s proposal. (Suez Committee doc. No. SC/D/17; ibid.)

For texts of the four notes that passed between the Committee of Five Nations and the Egyptian Government, see The Suez Canal Problem, July 26–September 22, 1956, pages 303–306.