774.11/3–1054: Telegram
No. 1296
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
1078. Following account events leading to return of Naguib as Prime Minister (my telegram 1069) given to Embassy officer by reliable source in close touch RCC: On March 7 Naguib sent RCC list of demands which included all his original demands prior his resignation (Embtel 953)2 in addition to insistence on direct plebiscite [Page 2228] on issue of “Presidential” versus “Parliamentary” Republic. He also demanded “yes” or “no” ballot on choice of himself as President, to precede elections for constituent assembly. When, at one point, formation of sort of Supreme Court to referee disputes between president and RCC was proposed, Naguib insisted any such body should have only advisory powers and should include ex-Wafdist Speaker Abd Al Salamguma and three ex-Wafdists, ex-Sadist leader, Hamid Guda and three former Sadists plus Husain Haykal, former President liberal constitutionalists and three members of this party.
According to source, RCC had made full preparations fact possibility renewed obstinacy on Naguib’s part in particular had very carefully assured itself of full army support in event of renewed crisis with Naguib. When Naguib failed to appear at joint Congress meeting Monday night, Major General Amir, CINC Armed Forces, was sent to convey to Naguib unanimous decision of RCC and Cabinet to refuse his demands. Source states Amir was armed with “documentary evidence” to convince Naguib that persistence in his demands would be met with firmest measures on part of RCC and Armed Forces.
Naguib thereupon accompanied Amir to meeting where he protested to Nasir that his position had been misrepresented and insisted he wished to cooperate with RCC but that he found himself in humiliating position vis-à-vis public because of his loss of premiership and presidency of RCC. He begged Nasir to make him Prime Minister again “just for a month”. Source states that Nasir thereupon offered to restore to Naguib all his lost titles and return situation to status quo ante. Source insisted Naguib has no more powers than before his resignation and that Nasir remains in effective control of RCC which continues to operate by majority decision.
- This telegram was repeated to London as telegram 356 and unnumbered to Paris, Rome, the Arab capitals, and Khartoum.↩
- In telegram 953 from Cairo, Feb. 25, not printed, Caffery reported that Naguib had demanded the right to veto any decision of the RCC, the power to appoint and dismiss Ministers, and to pass on promotions, dismissals, and transfers of officers. (774.11/2–2554)↩