Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1957, Volume XVII

232. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Egypt ¹

Washington , March 18, 1957—6:46 p.m.

3094. Embtels 2926,² 2929.³ Request you inform Fawzi immediately following views US Government regarding contemplated Egyptian communiqué:

1. US Government strongly opposes issuance proposed communiqué which it would consider a step leading to further deterioration of situation. It sincerely hopes GOE will not issue this or any communiqué until after imminent meeting with Hammarskjold.

2. US Government has not yet learned Egyptian response to 4-Power Proposal of February 19 which was submitted to SYG at his request. US Government cannot view proposed communiqué as response to 4-Power Proposal submitted by SYG.

3. US Government considers there should be early meeting between SYG and GOE respecting interim arrangements for the Suez Canal pending negotiation of final settlement based upon six requirements of Security Council Resolution October 13, 1956 and Hammarskjold–Fawzi exchange letters October 24 and November 2, 1956.⁴

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/3–1757. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Metzger and Shaw and approved by Dillon.
2. See footnote 2, supra.
3. Supra.
4. Later on March 18, Hare notified the Department of State that, according to Fawzi, the Egyptian Government would be issuing the communiqué in the form of a memorandum which would be circulated that evening to diplomatic missions in Cairo. Fawzi also gave Hare formal assurance that the door was open to working out a reasonable arrangement concerning the Canal, and that the only idea definitely excluded from discussions would be the issue of foreign sovereignty over Egyptian territory. (Telegram 2944 from Cairo, March 18; Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/3–1857)