Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 2

741.56474/3–1954

No. 1301
Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Jernegan) to the Secretary of State¹

top secret

Washington, March 19, 1954.

Subject:

• New British Proposals on Suez Base

Eden has submitted for our comments new proposals on the Suez Base involving: (1) Withdrawal of all British troops; (2) Maintenance of essential facilities by civilian contractors; and (3) Retention of reentry rights for twenty years. The plan is conditioned upon: (1) US participation and (2) Steps by Egypt to restore confidence. Eden has stated that without US association he is convinced that Churchill will insist on maintaining large British forces at the Suez Base indefinitely. (Tab A)²

The proposals resemble, but offer advantages over, “Case C,”³ which the US Government decided early last year to accept as a minimum if this were necessary to obtain a Base agreement. Both the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the Department of State, approved “Case C” in February 1953. The proposals involve considerably less in the way of a US commitment than the offer of the President to Churchill in June 1953 to provide US technicians to participate in the maintenance of the Base.

The effects of US association with the proposals would include: (1) Ensure that the British would in fact advance this new proposal to the Egyptians; (2) Increase the attractiveness of the proposals to Egypt and enhance the prospects of Egypt’s carrying them out in good faith; (3) Redound to the credit of the US in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world. A paper commenting on the proposals in detail is attached. (Tab B)⁴

A meeting was held with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on March 19 at which no decision was asked or given. The reaction of the Chiefs was generally favorable, but they had certain secondary reservations and in particular wished to study the implications at greater length. Admiral Radford will be present at your meeting with the President on March 20.⁵

Attached is a memorandum to the President which you may wish to present to him at the start of your discussion. (Tab C)

Recommendation:

That you urge approval of US association with the proposals at your meeting with the President on March 20, stressing the importance of an immediate decision.

[Tab C]

[Draft] Memorandum for the President

Subject:

• New British Proposals on Suez Base

The British have requested our comments on a new plan for solution of the Suez Base question with Egypt involving evacuation of all British troops, retention of certain reentry rights and maintenance of key installations by civilian contractors. The pertinent telegrams from London are attached.⁶ The British state the proposals are conditioned on steps by Egypt to “restore confidence.” The United States is asked to associate itself with the arrangement in the following respects: (1) Accept an invitation by Egypt to use the Base on the same terms as it would be available to the United Kingdom and (2) Work out maintenance arrangements with the United Kingdom and Egypt, including civil contracts by American firms if we so desire.

Eden has requested an immediate indication of our preliminary reaction. He has emphasized to Ambassador Aldrich his concern over the Suez Base problem and the seriousness of his difficulties with Churchill and Conservative Party backbenchers. Eden stated that without United States association he is convinced that Churchill would insist on maintaining large British forces at the Suez Base indefinitely.

The effects of United States association with the proposals would include: (1) Ensure that the British would in fact advance this new proposal to the Egyptians; (2) Increase the attractiveness of the proposals to Egypt and enhance the prospects of Egypt’s carrying them out in good faith; (3) Redound to the credit of the United States in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world.

The proposals were discussed with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at a meeting on March 19 at which no decision was requested or made.

I recommend that you approve United States association with and support of the British proposals. I consider a decision urgent because of the domestic difficulties faced by both the British and Egyptian Governments and the current deterioration of AngloEgyptian relations.

John Foster Dulles

1. This memorandum was drafted by Burdett.
2. Tab A consisted of telegrams 3991 and 4008 from London, Documents 1298 and 1299.
3. See Document 1061.
4. Not printed.
5. See footnote 2, supra.
6. The telegrams under reference are telegrams 3991 and 4008 from London, Documents 1298 and 1299.