360. Note From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Rountree) to the Secretary of State1
Mr. Secretary: The attached telegram from Ambassador Aldrich has just come to my attention since it was not despatched Niact.2 You will note his feeling that it is undesirable to respond further in writing to Mr. Lloyd. While, on the basis of the information which he presents, I do not see that we should rescind the instructions which went out last night to deliver your response to Mr. Lloyd,3 I would appreciate your views.
There is also attached a telegram from Paris4 which I find extremely interesting and which is, as you will see, extremely disturbing. Finally, I am enclosing a memo of conversation with the Egyptian Chargé,5 the last paragraph of which contains information which I have not heretofore had an opportunity to convey to you.
I will be in my office all morning; I have a series of appointments including a 12 o’clock appointment with Coulson and a 1:00 o’clock meeting with Shiloah. I also plan to be in the office the first half of the afternoon at least. If you would like for me to come out at any time during the day, however, I will cancel whatever appointments are necessary.6
- Source: Department of State, NEA Files: Lot 58 D 545, Egypt. A marginal notation on the source text reads: “Sec Saw”.↩
- None of the documents mentioned in this note is attached. Reference is presumably to telegram 2170, Document 356.↩
- Reference is to telegram 2851, which transmitted Dulles’ message to Lloyd, Document 358.↩
- Reference is presumably to telegram 1839, Document 357.↩
- Reference is presumably to Document 353.↩
- Dulles’ Appointment Book does not indicate that the Secretary met with Rountree that day. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers)↩