Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Suez Crisis, July 26–December 31, 1956, Volume XVI

594. Telegram From the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State¹

Cairo, November 19, 1956—3 p.m.

1571. Deptel 1564² instructing discuss volunteer question with Hammarskjold although serviced as missing only received 2145 yesterday following his departure. However, following action along general line reference telegram had already been taken.

(1) Recent discussions with Nasser on dealings with Soviets, including volunteers, reported Embassy telegrams 1491, 1512 and 1536.³ Burden these messages was that only affirmative action taken by GOE was general appeal for volunteers; that Soviets had however made sweeping offers of assistance to Egypt, including volunteers; that no implementing action re volunteers had been taken because of GOE decision not to reply to Soviet offer; that GOE does not foresee changing this policy but cannot guarantee what it might do in future if hand forced.

(2) This attitude reflected yesterday in interview of Aly Sabry with American press in which reported to have said that, although Egypt had made general appeal for volunteers on November 6, it had delayed acceptances in order avoid increasing world tension. Sabry quoted as saying “at the moment we are counting on UN to solve this problem. But if hostilities start again we will accept help from anyone”. To be noted that Sabry’s observations related to demand that there should be no delay in British-French withdrawal, which might be seen as reason for his having taken stronger public position than did Nasser when speaking privately. However, should be emphasized that in both cases departure from present policy seen as possibility in event changed circumstances inimical to Egypt.

(3) Although then without instructions Embassy took liberty passing information referred to in paragraph 1 this telegram to Hammarskjold via Colonel Ely⁴ on informal basis in order he might have for background in discussions with Nasser (Embassy telegram 1443).⁵ He did not have occasion however discuss with him.

Hare

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/11–1956. Secret; Received at 12:07 a.m., November 20. Repeated to London, Paris, Moscow, and USUN.
2. Document 576.
3. Dated November 14, November 15, and November 16, respectively, none printed. (All in Department of State, Central File 684A.86)
4. Lieutenant Colonel David R. Ely of the Canadian Army was the UNTSO liaison officer at Cairo.
5. The reference is evidently in error. Telegram 1443, November 11, concerns an unrelated subject. (Department of State, Central Files, 474.116/11–1156)