Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLTCHava Adding OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DECLASSIFIED WASHINGTON E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. DEB Guidelines, NLT, Date March 9-10-85 6, 1982 August 6, 1952 By TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS IRAN: Information received by the American Ambassador at London indicates that the Department's proposals for joint US-UK action in the Iranian crisis, submitted to Ambassador Franks in an Aide Memoire on July 31, will be taken up at a meeting of the British Cabinet tomorrow. It will be recalled that this Aide Memoire outlined immediate steps which the US Government feels essential in the effort to prevent loss of Iran to the Western world. Embassy London has had no indication of working level recommendations on the Aide Memoire beyond a statement by a British official that he had no doubt a common appropriate course of action could be agreed upon. EGYPT: Embassy London reports that the British Foreign Office is somewhat reassured regarding recent developments in Egypt, particularly the resolution of the Regency Council problem, the indication of Ali Maher's willingness to stay in office and the lack of any breakdown in law and order. The British Joint Chiefs will today consider whether present alerts of British forces should be relaxed. The British Foreign Office says that if the decision is taken to prolong alerts it would be made clear to the military that it might be necessary to reduce them again on short notice since there is still a potential for deterioration in the situation. In expressing its view that many of the indications of willingness of the younger Egyptian military officers connected with the coup to cooperate with the West in defense matters were prompted by a desire to obtain equipment, the British Foreign Office indicated it would be a mistake to comply with such requests until it was clear that Egypt would cooperate in Middle East defense. Nevertheless, the British Foreign Office has agreed that there is some hope in the present situation of splitting the questions of defense and Sudan issue at the proper time. The British feel there are still many aspects of the defense problem which must be clarified before entering military negotiations and have indicated their desire to discuss defense pro- posals with the US before submitting them to the Egyptians since the close US-UK coordination might well be critical in persuading the Egyptians to accept them. TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMA' TION