649. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt1
1912. At early opportunity you should speak with Nasser along following lines:
April 9, 1956 statement issued on behalf of President declared that “US, in accordance with its responsibilities under UN Charter, will observe its commitments within Constitutional means to oppose any aggression in (NE) area …2 US is likewise determined to support and assist any nation which might be subjected to such aggression.”
On October 29 President, recalling that US had pledged itself to assist victim of any aggression in NE, said “we shall honor our pledge”.
Events subsequent to outbreak of hostilities in NE have revealed effective manner in which US has lived up to this pledge. In doing so, US took actions which placed it in strong opposition to policies of its oldest friends, UK and France. US efforts to assist in bringing hostilities in Egypt to an end were made at heavy cost to US in terms of damage to traditional friendship with oldest allies at time when USSR, through its brutal policy in Hungary and its truculent public statements vaunting superiority of its military strength, once more left world in no doubt of its willingness to commit military aggression to serve its political ends. In light serious implications these circumstances GOE can have had no doubt of importance which US places upon preservation integrity NE states and maintenance peace in area.
US believes it has right now to ask what Egypt is prepared to do to promote area peace and strengthen area stability. Past Egyptian policies, especially re Suez Canal and fedayeen activities, had important responsibility for bringing on hostilities. It is unthinkable, in US view, that tensions in area be permitted to rise again. Rather, steps must be taken leading to solution of underlying problems. US expects GOE to demonstrate a constructive attitude in this regard, and to reveal due respect for principles of international law as stressed by Nasser in his November 21 speech. Specifically, following are kind of steps US desires see Egypt now take:
- a)
- Offer full cooperation in urgent clearance of Canal;
- b)
- Offer full cooperation in renewal of negotiations on future Canal regime;
- c)
- Place no obstacle in way of fulfillment by UN force of its responsibilities under GA resolution in Egypt;
- d)
- Take effective measures to prevent fedayeen operations;
- e)
- Cease operations by Egyptian agents in violation sovereignty and authority of neighboring states;
- f)
- Move toward settlement of outstanding problems between Arab states and Israel.
In these and other ways GOE can make important contribution to strengthening of peace and stability NE. In view of its interest in security of area, recently so convincingly demonstrated, US believes it has right express friendly hope that GOE will take steps to bring about lessening of tensions.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/12–1156. Secret. Drafted by Rockwell; cleared by Beam, Wilcox, and Sisco; and approved by Rountree who signed for Hoover. Repeated to Paris for the Secretary and to London.↩
- Ellipsis in the source text.↩
- In telegram 1925 to Cairo, December 12, the Department of State added to these instructions as follows: “Following inadvertently omitted from list of steps US desires see Egypt now take in interests promotion area stability. Cessation of inflammatory radio attacks on neighboring states.” (Department of State, Central Files 684A.86/12–1256)↩