668. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt1
2114. Egyptian Delegation to UN has circulated resolution which would provide for assessment of damage caused Egypt by military operations by Israel, France and United Kingdom as basis compensation to Egypt. It is unclear at this point whether Egyptian Government intends to press for consideration of draft after General Assembly reconvenes on January 2.
You should approach GOE at level you deem appropriate in order ascertain intention Egyptian Government. You may make any following points as appropriate in light Egyptian response to our query:
- 1.
- Pressing Egyptian resolution unwise and untimely. It can only lead to fruitless and acrimonious debate. If GOE presses resolution re damages this will probably make it necessary for France, UK and Israel to raise counter claims against Egypt for damages they feel they have suffered as result of actions by Egyptian Government. [Page 1338] Charges and counter-charges will make considerably more difficult working out of many unresolved problems in the Middle East.
- 2.
- The United States Government would not support the resolution as tabled, and we believe considerable number Assembly members will share this view. Only resolution with any chance of passage would be one including, in addition to any Egyptian claims, a call for assessment of damages done by Egypt to other nations. These would probably include claims for damages arising from blocking of Canal, economic, and para-military action against Israel, sequestration of foreign properties in Egypt and treatment of minorities there, and reported activities of Egyptian agents in French North Africa, and elsewhere.
USUN: Please inform Secretary General of above approach.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 274.00/12–2856. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Gamon (IO/UNP) and approved by Walmsley. Repeated to USUN, London, and Paris.↩