234. Letter From Egyptian Prime Minister Khalil to Secretary of State Vance1
Pursuant to my letter of yesterday2 concerning the proposed Memorandum of Agreement between U.S. and Israel3 I wish to inform you of the following:
While Egypt does not contest the right of the United States Government, or any other government for that matter, to take the decisions it deems compatible with its foreign policy, the Government of Egypt maintains the right not to accept any decision or action which it considers directed against Egypt. I would like to state that the contents of the proposed Memorandum will have a direct bearing on the Peace Treaty.
You are certainly aware of the keen desire of Egypt to strengthen the friendly relations between our two countries as well as to establish peace and stability in the whole region. This will be furthered by achieving a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel as an important step towards a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. Bearing this in mind, I want you to know that we were deeply disappointed to find the United States accepting to enter into an agreement we consider directed against Egypt. The Memorandum does not serve any useful purpose. On the contrary, its contents and purport would adversely affect the whole process of peace and stability in the area.
Egypt rejects the Memorandum for the following reasons:
1. It is contrary to the spirit existing between our two countries and does not contribute to the strengthening of relations between them. I wish to put on record that Egypt was never consulted on the substance of the proposed memorandum.
2. The contents of the proposed memorandum are based upon alledged accusations against Egypt and providing for certain measures to be taken against her in that hypothetical case of violations, the determination of which is largely left to Israel.
3. We have been engaged in the final process of negotiating the Treaty for over a month now, however, we have not been notified of the [Page 804] intention of the United States to agree on such a memorandum. Moreover, we learned of it by way of information and not consultation. Ambassador Eilts gave it to me at 2:00 p.m., March 25, only 24 hours before the scheduled ceremonies for signature of the Treaty.
4. The United States is supposed to be a partner in a tri-partite effort to achieve peace and not to support the allegations of one side against the other.
5. The proposed Memorandum assumes that Egypt is the side liable to violate its obligations.
6. The proposed Memorandum could be construed as an eventual alliance between the United States and Israel against Egypt.
7. It gives the United States certain rights that were never mentioned or negotiated with us.
8. It gives the United States the power to impose measures, or to put it bluntly, punitive measures, a matter which raises doubts about the future relations and could affect the situation in the whole region.
9. The proposed Memorandum even uses dangerously vague terms as “threats of violations” against which certain measures would be taken. We consider this to be a matter of grave consequences.
10. It implies that the economic and arms supply are subject to the sole judgment of the United States Government in connection with the alledged threats of violations being attributed to one side.
11. It makes certain aspects of Egyptian-American relations to be subject to elements extraneous to those relations and its commitments made to a third party.
12. It implies the United States acquiescence to Israel’s embarking on measures, including military measures, against Egypt on the assumption that there are violations or threats of violation of the Treaty.
13. It gives the United States the right to impose a military presence in the region for reasons agreed between Israel and the United States. A matter which we cannot accept.
14. The proposed Memorandum will cast grave doubts about the real intention of the United States, especially in connection with the peace process. It could be accused of collaboration with Israel to create such circumstances that would lead to American military presence in the area, a matter which would certainly have serious implications especially on the stability in the whole region.
15. It will have adverse effects in Egypt towards the United States and would certainly drive other Arab countries to take a harder position against the peace process, and would give added reasons for them not to participate in that process.
16. It would also pave the way for other alliances to be formed in the area to counter the one whose seeds could be found in the proposed Memorandum.
[Page 805]For all these reasons, I hereby inform you that the Government of Egypt will not recognize the legality of the Memorandum and considers it null and void and as having no effect whatsoever so far as Egypt is concerned.
- Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State—1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Box 5, Middle East Peace Treaty—1979. No classification marking. Printed from a copy delivered by the Egyptian Embassy in Washington.↩
- See Document 233.↩
- See Document 232.↩