780.5/1–2353: Telegram
No. 117
The Secretary of
State to the Embassy in
Turkey1
1028. Following information regarding imminent US–UK discussions with Egyptians may be relayed to Turks after you have ascertained that British Ambassador has implemented instructions from his Foreign Office, copy of which enclosed with London’s despatch #3347, January 23 (copy to Ankara).2 If copy not yet received assume British Ambassador will make Foreign Office memorandum available to you.
Now that UK-Egyptian agreement has been reached on the Sudan, US and UK intend open negotiations with Egypt in endeavor to secure its association in arrangements for defense of Middle East on following basis: 1) phased withdrawal from Egypt of British forces; 2) retention of peacetime base in Canal Zone; 3) provisions for air defense of Egypt; 4) Egyptian participation in MEDO; and 5) UK and US military and economic assistance to Egypt.
Point 4) above, on which US and UK would negotiate on behalf of sponsoring powers, considered essential part of package deal in order to avoid vacuum in Middle East defense and to justify supply of arms to Egypt. Should Egyptians wish consult other Arab governments before agreeing in principle to participate in MEDO, US and UK would be prepared, on behalf of or in cooperation with sponsoring powers, to make prior approach to Arab governments in order to enable Egyptians to discuss position with them on basis that those governments will equally have opportunity to participate in organization.
Regarding enclosure Londons despatch #3374 [3347], US has not yet agreed memorandum should be used as basis for initial MEDO approach. This Government feels strongly that tactics to be pursued [Page 346] should not be codified but that negotiations should, to an extent, be “played by ear.”