Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

the OFFICE OF DECLASSIFIED THE SECRETARY OF STATE E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 WASHINGTON State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 By DEBNLT, Date 9-10-05 September 19, 1952 SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS EGYPT General Naguib sent an emissary, Lt. Col. Amin, to Ambassador Caffery yesterday with a message from the ruling military group, which made the following points: 1) After eight weeks of concentration on domestic issues, the military now believe the time has come to move into the next stage of the revolution and consider Egypt's international position; 2) They are completely on the side of the US and are unalterably opposed to Communism; 3) Their first problem is to "sell the US to the Egyptian public" and to educate the average Egyptian on the dangers of Communism; 4) In order to sell the US to the Egyptian public they need military supplies and financial aid from the US; 5) In exchange they are prepared to give in secret certain commitments concerning the long-term objectives of their move- ment, including the MEDO and/or partnership with the US; and 6) They believe that to give commitments openly at this time would destroy their chance of achieving their objectives, but they want to work toward open commitments as rapidly as possible. Col. Amin put the following questions to Caffery: 1) Would the US be interested in such cooperation? 2) What sort of secret commitments would the US want? and 3) Would General Naguib be acceptable as the author of such commitments ? Col. Amin said again and again that Egypt has no intention of renewing hostilities with Israel or with the British, and that ample guaran- tees would be provided concerning the use of the materiel. He also said that Egypt would accept help from the British. Col. Amin asked Caffery's "personal" opinion whether the time had now come when the Egyptians should estab- lish some sort of closer relations with the British. Caffery said that the time had come, and that he would suggest to Ambassador Stevenson that a member of the British Embassy should be as- signed as a liaison with the Egyptian military. Caffery emphasized to Amin that our ultimate objective in Egypt was the realization of the MEDO and that this could not be accomplished without British participation. Amin "made noises about evacuation, ", says Caffery, but in essence he agreed. SECRET SECURIT INEORMATION