641.74/2–1754: Telegram
No. 1287
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
926. Embassy is naturally losing no opportunity to impress upon RCC advantages of Anglo-Egyptian settlement and to make clear US view that British unlikely make further important concessions (Deptel 938).
On other hand I must emphasize conclusions reached in joint estimate (B II) in connection with availability and uniforms. Nothing has happened since that time to make either me or British Ambassador or our staffs change our minds in their regard.
Also I must point out again Egyptian impression as set out in second paragraph mytel 891 that British were striving all along to include Turkey and Iran in availability formula, primarily Turkey, [Page 2220] and Iran if possible; and that UN formula was brought in as second best when Egyptians refused to agree to inclusion of Turkey. My British colleague is of opinion that maximum availability formula obtainable would be inclusion of Turkey and Iran and next best Turkey alone without Iran. British community here are back of British Embassy in believing that London would be lucky to obtain the inclusion of Turkey.
Stevenson told me the other day there were some indications London might be getting ready to move on this. Writer G. F. Eliot, who has been supporting British stand, told me few days ago that he understood that what British were after regarding availability was inclusion of Turkey and Iran.
Nasir is out of town for few days but upon his return I shall take first available opportunity to suggest that he talk directly to Stevenson about Turkey.
- Repeated to London as telegram 302.↩