Office of the Historian

Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 139

No. 382
Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Meeting at The White House on March 6, 1953, at Noon1
top secret
Washington, March 6, 1953

Subject:

  • Political Discussions with the British

Participants:

  • The President
  • Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
  • Ambassador Makins
  • Secretary Dulles
  • General W. B. Smith
  • Amb. Winthrop Aldrich

Mr. Dulles reviewed the political conversations which had taken place dealing with (1) Europe, particularly EDC; (2) the Far East; (3) Egypt; (4) Iran.2 He pointed out that there had been substantial agreement with respect to the first two items. With respect to the third item, he pointed out that certain questions were open, which it was hoped would be resolved on the basis of the next draft3 which Mr. Eden would recommend to his Government and which Mr. Dulles recommended to the President.

The President agreed to the draft, pointing out, however, that United States participation in negotiations between Egypt and the United Kingdom arising out of their treaty relationship would have to be brought about through the friendly desire of the Egyptian Government to receive U.S. participation. Mr. Eden suggested that in view of the dependence of Egypt upon the later aspects of the negotiations, particularly MEDO and military equipment, he was confident that the Egyptian Government would welcome U.S. participation.

The President said that he would nominate General Hull to be military adviser to Ambassador Caffery, and he called General Collins on the telephone to assure that General Hull would be in readiness to depart, if it seemed appropriate, on Monday.

With reference to Iran, Mr. Dulles expressed the view that the situation was so dangerous and unpredictable that it might be necessary to act promptly and that the United States would have to have a considerable measure of discretion as to what it did.

[Page 919]

The President suggested that Ambassador Henderson should be advised that, if he felt that his own presence there was likely to be terminated by action of the Iranian Government, he should anticipate this by announcing that he was being called back for consultation, and that it might be desirable for the State Department to have ready someone to take his place.

Mr. Eden urged that any measures which the United States took to maintain a state of friendly stability in Iran should be in terms of aid unrelated to any purchase of oil or activation of the refinery. He said that the presence there of any American technicians would arouse very bitter resentment in the United Kingdom and be apt to create serious parliamentary difficulties. This matter was left unsettled but with U.S. freedom of action reserved.

[Attachment]

Draft Paper on Egypt Agreed by the Foreign Ministers of the United States and the United Kingdom
top secret
Washington, March 6, 1953.

Negotiations with the Egyptian Government will be undertaken in Cairo by representatives of the two Governments, including military officers of high rank.

The objective will be to secure an agreement on the basis of Case A. Should this prove impossible, the United States Government wish to make it clear that in their view, it may be necessary to fall back on an arrangement lying between Case A and Case B and in the last resort on Case B.4

If the Egyptians prove completely intransigeant, a new situation will be created which the two Governments will discuss.

  1. A summary and the text of the agreed draft (see attachment below) were transmitted to London in telegram 5956 (repeated to Cairo), Mar. 7. (774.5/3–753)↩
  2. For the records of these meetings, see Documents 379–381.↩
  3. Printed below.↩
  4. Regarding Cases A and B, see footnote 5, Document 381.↩