176. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Wilcox) to the Secretary of State1
SUBJECT
- Conversation with Fawzi in New York
USUN just reported that they had a conversation with Fawzi about the GA meeting this afternoon.2Fawzi said that he would state in the GA that no declaration by Israel or other governments can be binding upon Egypt. He left the impression that he had no intention of upsetting the plans with respect to this afternoon’s session. USUN repeated, however, that Fawzi is often inclined to be more flexible on these matters than Cairo. USUN took the line which you had given to Lodge this morning, stressing the idea that it was important that Egypt not take back anything they had said to the Secretary General for this might provide an excuse for Israel not to carry through with its promises to withdraw.
- Source: Department of State, Wilcox Files, Lot 60 D 113, Middle East. Secret.↩
- Evidently the report was transmitted to Washington via telephone. At 8 p.m. the Mission transmitted in Delga 826 a written report of Lodge’s conversation with Fawzi which took place the morning of March 1. (Ibid., Central Files, 674.84A/3–157)↩