Office of the Historian

741.56374/2–1254: Telegram

No. 1286
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt1

secret
Washington, February 16, 1954—5:40 p.m.

938. We do not anticipate any UK Cabinet decision on Egypt for at least ten days and see only slim prospects for significant modification in “Heads of Agreement”.

Cairo’s 901 and previous describe Nasir as waiting for UK reply to his suggestion re Turkey. British show no inclination to reply especially in absence direct approach to them and RCC endorsement.

We believe pressure should be maintained on RCC and especially Nasir to consider exhaustively consequences rejection present UK offer. As long as Nasir continues hope his suggestion re Turkey will produce important changes UK position, he unlikely face up to actual situation.

Accordingly Embassy requested at its discretion remind Nasir US views (Deptel 820) and suggest he consider advisability approaching UK directly re Turkey.

Smith
  1. Repeated to London as telegram 4223. Drafted by Burdett and approved by Byroade.↩