641.74/10–2351: Telegram
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Department of State 1
niact
555. Ref Embtels 553 and 554, October 23.2 I repeat, in my opinion it is important on our side not to do anything to worsen the situation here. It is essential for Brit mil auths in Canal Zone to do everything needful and even go a little beyond that at times to protect their [Page 408] position there, and up to now they have done just that. This morning, however, I felt compelled to tell my Brit colleague that in my opinion Brit Zone Commander who this morning cut off fuel oil supplies from Egypt was going a bit too far. Fuel oil is used for electric power, telephones, telegrams, railroads, bakeries, mills, factories and industrial establishments, in general.
When this becomes known reaction of population will be violent. Difficult control and large fon population here will suffer.
Cutting off fuel oil wld be perfectly justifiable in a real emergency.
The CG told the Gov of Suez at 6 last night that unless trains in zone were running again this morning at 6 he wld take this action. I told Stevenson that I agree that it is necessary to keep trains running and that the gen wld be perfectly justified in taking measures to force Egypt to do this, and there are plenty of other measures he cld take. But this particular one directed against the whole population simply does not show a sense of proportion.
Stevenson is extremely unhappy about this and said obviously he has no control over the mil; he thanked me and said he wld telegraph urgently on this subj to London.
In meantime, our oil reps, who tell me with careful handling there are stocks for ten days of fuel oil in Egypt, are urgently asking for advice. I told them take it easy for a day or two.
It is plain that if this order is allowed to stand all hell will break loose in Egypt in a very few days. However, I am not suggesting that Dept take this up with London at this juncture. I shld prefer to await the reply from London to Stevenson.
Incidentally I asked Stevenson why since Erskine has taken over the trains he does not run them with Brit personnel. Stevenson did not know the answer.3
- Repeated to London, Paris, Ankara. A typed notation on the source text reads: “Mr. Stabier’s office (NE) notified 5:15 p.m. 10/31/51.”↩
- Neither printed; telegram 553 reported the British decision to cut off all fuel oil supplies from Suez to Cairo in retaliation for Egyptian interference with British military trains in the canal zone. Telegram 554 reported on civil disturbances in Cairo and stern police countermeasures including firing into crowds of demonstrators. (641.74/10–2351)↩
- Caffery informed the Secretary in telegram 563 of October 24 from Cairo that Ambassador Stevenson “tells me this morning that after our conversation he took up fuel oil embargo with Gen Robertson [Commander in Chief, British Middle East Land Forces] and that Robertson sent him word this morning that he had ‘turned on the tap’ again this morning at 6, but on day-to-day basis. However, he promised not turn off tap again without consulting Brit Amb who will consult with me.” Caffery added that Robertson’s action had averted a serious crisis and that the General acted “in view what I said to Stevenson.” (641.74/10–2451). In telegram 2024 from London of October 24, Ambassador Gifford informed the Secretary, inter alia, that the Foreign Office “gathers prevention Suez-Cairo oil shipments carried out without realization probable serious econ consequences and has taken view that prohibition shld be withdrawn, especially since it has already served purpose showing Egypts that Brit authorities Canal Zone have available effective countermeasure.” (641.74/10–2451)↩