Office of the Historian

674.84A/7–1651: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt 1

confidential
Washington, July 16, 1951—5 p. m.

73. 1. During call on McGhee Jul 13 Egypt Amb on own initiative urged Dept find way postpone SC consideration Suez restrictions on basis this worst possible time debate such explosive question in view Iran question and delicacy Anglo-Egypt relations. McGhee replied only hope postponement wld be voluntary action now by Egypt Govt to lift restrictions. While US not anxious this matter come before SC, failure Egypt Govt raise restrictions made SC consideration unavoidable.

2. Egypt Amb also stated that if SC called on Egypt re restrictions there was possibility Egypt Govt might not comply as other States did not find compliance necessary. McGhee emphasized irreparable damage to Egypts position in world councils if such attitude adopted.

3. Dept wld appreciate ur estimate re Egypts compliance with SC res calling for raising of restrictions.2

Acheson
  1. Repeated for information to London, Paris, Tel Aviv, and New York; sent by air to Jidda, Baghdad, Ankara, Damascus, Beirut, and Amman.↩

  2. In telegram 62 from Cairo, July 18, Ambassador Caffery replied as follows:

    “I do not believe that Egyptian conscience wld be greatly troubled by defying possible SC Resolution on Suez Canal restrictions. They wld undoubtedly cite as justification past instances of Israeli non-compliance with SC Resolutions. Also they wld be influenced by Iran flouting Hague Court.” (674.84A/7–1851)

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