195.91/9–2348: Telegram
The Ambassador in Egypt (Griffis) to the Acting Secretary of State
1373. Replying Deptel 1299, September 17, 8 p. m.,1 under authority military proclamations five and thirteen, Egyptian Government is seizing all cargo destined to or en route from Palestine. Increasingly rigorous inspections of passengers and baggage and cargo inevitable. Fuel, food, water and other supplies are being denied to vessels calling Palestine.
Government now proposes to deny entry into Egyptian ports to any vessel repeatedly calling Palestine. Extremely likely that passengers of military age (probably including women) en route Palestine will be removed from vessels and interned. Strong likelihood that vessels themselves if allowed to call at Alexandria may be interned if repeatedly carrying military age personnel or cargo for Palestine. No new decrees or regulations issued covering these proposals which are administrative decisions under above military proclamations. Copies of all decrees have been sent Department. All Arab League countries reportedly determined adopt similar restrictions.
[Page 1419]Agent of American Export Lines has strongly promised line temporarily to eliminate Palestinian ports from schedule.
It is not believed that any further protest is advisable or would be effective at this time, since more onerous of these measures determined upon since Egyptian Government’s receipt of memo and verbal communication contents Deptel 1210.2 Embassy believes that only close adherence to Egyptian Government emergency regulations will prevent serious embarrassment US flag vessels this area, Might be possible to have Palestine-bound passengers unmolested Alexandria if UN certification as to their non-military status were obtained prior embarkation from US and possibly American consular certificates for those embarking at intermediate ports. Re Deptel 1242 and 1259,3 American citizen M. S. Zia, passenger to Alexandria last trip Marine Carp reports large group Jewish passengers for Haifa made no secret military status, conducted commando tactics practice on deck daily, insisted bulletins and announcements be made in Hebrew, and paid $6,800 charges for excess baggage which took seven hours to unload at Haifa, including some 75 or 80 US Army type trunks so heavy took two men to lift.
- Not printed; it stated that since it was not clear what positive action the Egyptian Government planned to take against American ships trading with Israeli ports and since the Department had not found technical legal grounds on which to base a protest, the Department requested Cairo’s “considered views as to character probable Egyp action and any suggestions which you feel would be effective in formulation of protest.” (195.91/9–1348)↩
- Dated (September 2, not printed; it stated that “any actions on part either party to present controversy in Palestine which would impede normal” movements of passengers and cargoes “would be viewed most seriously by this Govt.” (195.91/9–248)↩
- Dated September 9 and September 10, respectively, neither printed.↩