641.74/3–1054: Telegram
No. 1295
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
priority
1075. Ambassador Ahmed Hussein told me last night that Nasir still desires settle Anglo-Egyptian question as quickly as possible. He said Nasir reaffirmed yesterday his willingness extend availability to include Turkey if British will give up uniforms.
[Page 2227]Hussein made point (which coincides Embassy’s own analysis) that unless Anglo-Egyptian agreement concluded before start electoral campaign for constituent assembly, there will be no Anglo-Egyptian settlement in foreseeable future. Once speech-making starts, “British imperialism” will again become number one political issue in Egypt and politicians will again strive to out do each other in uncompromising insistence on Egypt’s full “national rights”.
British may be inclined view this prospect with some complacency in belief they can successfully resume pre-revolution tactics of playing off Egyptian politicians against each other. (Commonwealth representative said last night that British Embassy officer last night told him file on Anglo-Egyptian negotiations has been “closed up and locked away”.) I cannot believe, however, that Eden will fail to appreciate essential short-sightedness of any “wait-and-see” policy. Despite mistakes and weaknesses, this regime has brought new and positive approach to Egypt’s problems.
If British attempt to remain by force at Suez base after expiration treaty in 1956, they will unleash forces which may devour our Middle Eastern interests as well as theirs.2
- Repeated to London as telegram 354 and unnumbered to Paris, Rome, Ankara, and the Arab capitals.↩
- Ambassador Caffery reported in telegram 1081, Mar. 11, not printed, that he had provided Stevenson with the contents of this conversation, and Stevenson had said that he would telegraph London immediately for authorization for meetings. (641.74/3–1154)↩