641.74/7–2054: Telegram
No. 1345
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the
Department of State1
priority
86. British Embassy this morning gave us following account last night’s meeting which lasted from 10–12:15:
Except for clearing up certain minor points Stevenson was only authorized probe Egyptian position on duration and withdrawal. “He got nowhere” with Egyptians sticking to 15 months and 7 years. Since British not authorized commit themselves they tried hard put ideas in heads of Egyptians. Stevenson made it plain he [Page 2286] was exploring situation and asked Egyptians to show him some daylight to report to London.
Egyptians put up many arguments, “some of them quite good some not so good”. They made big play over Turkey which they said was causing them great deal of trouble. Also pointed out they are conceding a base and thus making selves target for atomic attack. They repeated that 7 years had been agreed to last October so they saw no reason to change now particularly as they did not regard British proposal to civilian ideas anything new or startling but rather as something put forward to suit UK convenience.
Egyptians made point that short agreement which works is better than long one which would be open to attack from many angles.
On Iran Stevenson hinted he might be able persuade HMG to drop it. Egyptians replied, not entirely accurately, this was agreed to last year so concession did not amount to much.
Through Salah Salim Egyptians dropped veiled threat they might resort to rabble-rousing if there should be no agreement.
British have sent factual report and are now considering what recommendations to make. They have indicated Stevenson will probably wish discuss situation with me today after his thoughts clarified.
It was agreed tell press simply that meeting had been held with no mention further meeting which now dependent response from London.2
British mentioned in passing that Iraqi Ambassador called yesterday to emphasize point made by Jamali in London that Iraq would be unhappy if Iran not included in agreement.
- Repeated to London as telegram 21.↩
- Caffery reported in telegram 89, July 20, not printed, that Stevenson had advised London that he thought the Egyptians would break on any extension of the 7–year duration period, but that if they were assured of 7 years, they would probably find a way to extend the evacuation period beyond 15 months. Caffery also informed the Department that the British Embassy thought that the final decisions would probably require Cabinet determination, and the Embassy hoped to get a response from London in time to inform the Egyptians before July 23 that they were ready for another meeting after the celebrations marking the anniversary of the Revolution. (641.74/7–2054)↩