194. Editorial Note
On September 7 in Cairo, the Five-Nation Committee agreed to the text of an aide-mémoire explaining the purposes and rationale of the Eighteen-Power Proposal, which was to be delivered to Nasser that evening. Henderson reported that all members of the Committee had contributed substantively to the process of revising Menzies’ original draft, but that the majority of changes had been suggested by the United States and to some extent by Iran. Henderson noted that the United States Delegation was not completely satisfied with the final text of the aide-mémoire, but he believed it to be the best obtainable without creating friction within the Committee, especially in view of “Menzies’ sensitivities”. (Telegram 643 from Cairo, September 7; Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/9–456) The text of the aide-mémoire was transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 645 from Cairo, September 7. (Ibid.) Also on September 7, Menzies forwarded to Nasser a proposal from the Spanish Delegation with a covering note in which Menzies explained that at the Suez Conference the Spanish Delegation had requested the Committee to bring to Nasser’s attention its proposal, if the Committee proved unable to reach agreement with Egypt on an international board for operating the Suez Canal. The Spanish proposal, as forwarded to Nasser, called for the establishment, by Convention, of [Page 442] institutional arrangements for cooperation between Egypt and other nations interested in the operation, development, and maintenance of the Canal. The Spanish proposed that this be achieved through adequate international representation on the Egyptian Board which operated, maintained, and developed the Canal. The text of the Spanish proposal and Menzies’ covering note were forwarded to the Department of State in telegram 679 from Cairo, September 9. (Ibid.)
Nasser’s response was delivered to Menzies at 12:45 p.m., September 9. In it, the Egyptian President reaffirmed his government’s right to nationalize the Suez Canal Company, Egypt’s commitment to adhere to the Convention of 1888 guaranteeing freedom of passage through the Canal, and Egypt’s readiness to give full and equitable compensation to shareholders of the Company. Nasser maintained that a crisis atmosphere had been created by threats to use force, mobilization of troops, and other hostile measures. He reiterated his willingness to negotiate a peaceful solution which respected the rights of Egyptian sovereignty and ownership, safeguarded freedom of passage through the Canal, and ensured dependable and efficient operation and development of the Canal; but he also maintained that the proposals presented by the Committee were unacceptable and served to undermine these very objectives. The text of Nasser’s reply was forwarded to the Department of State in telegram 681 from Cairo, September 9. (Ibid.)
Also on September 9, the Five-Nation Committee agreed to the text of a final report, containing a summation of its activities, and decided to release to the press upon returning to London the texts of the following documents: the Committee’s aide-mémoire to Nasser of September 3; the Committee’s letter to Nasser of September 7; the Committee’s letter to Nasser of September 7 enclosing the Spanish proposal; and Nasser’s reply to the Committee of September 9. (Reported to the Department of State in telegrams 677 and 685 from Cairo, September 9; ibid.) The text of the Committee’s report is in telegram 687 from Cairo, September 9. (Ibid.)
At 7 p.m., September 9, the Committee paid a farewell call on Nasser. Henderson reported that the meeting did not concern itself with substance. Menzies thanked Nasser for courtesies extended to the Committee and cooperation on procedural matters. Nasser spoke only briefly, expressing his appreciation for the manner in which the Committee had discharged its mission. Nasser and the Committee then agreed upon the text of a final communiqué, which acknowledged that discussions had taken place, that the Committee had presented and explained the Eighteen-Power Proposal, and that the Committee had received the views of the Egyptian Government on the proposals.
[Page 443]Henderson reported that Nasser appeared preoccupied and almost somber during this meeting. (Telegram 693 from Cairo, September 9; ibid.) The text of the agreed communiqué is in telegram 691 from Cairo, September 9. (Ibid.) Later that evening the Committee returned to London where the above-mentioned documents were released to the press. On the following day the Department of State made the documents public in Press Release No. 474. (Department of State Bulletin, September 24, 1956, pages 467–475) These documents and the Committee’s final report are printed in The Suez Canal Problem, July 26–September 22, 1856, pages 303–326.