774.11/3–854: Telegram
No. 1294
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
priority
1069. As intimated my telegram 10622RCC was faced with extensive demands from Naguib (details will follow). Return to status quo ante was probably best compromise which could be worked out under circumstances.
Naguib returns much stronger than he left. It is not to be expected, therefore, that he will be willing to sit back and let Nasir run government as Deputy Prime Minister to extent he formerly did. While this is potential source of friction, Nasir will probably try to avoid further flare-ups during period remaining before election Constituent Assembly.
Another possible cause of trouble is Naguib’s partiality to “presidential”, as opposed to “parliamentary” republic and his desire for direct plebiscite on this issue and on choice of him as President. RCCs preference for parliamentary republic is supported by Ali Maher, Sanhuri and apparently majority of constitution drafting commission.
- Repeated to London as telegram 352 and unnumbered to Paris, Rome, the Arab capitals, and Khartoum.↩
- In telegram 1062 from Cairo, Mar. 8, not printed, Ambassador Caffery reported serious disagreements existed between the RCC and Naguib over the definition of the President’s authority and his relationship to the RCC and Cabinet. Caffery predicted that if compromise could not be reached, Egypt might soon be faced with renewed crises. (774.11/3–854)↩