Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

OFFICE OF Sec. 3-402 Guidelines, March 6, 19322E SECRETARY WASHINGTON OF STATE State DEB Dept. NLT, Date 9-9-85 By February 6, 1952 SECRET SECURITY INF FORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS EGYPT We have asked our Ambassador in London to inform Foreign Secretary Eden that in a call on Secretary Acheson yesterday, the Egyptian Ambassador stated that Egyptian Prime Minister Maher is counting on US help in the present difficult situation. Peace and security in Egypt are now well in hand. The Prime Minister has "turned over a new blank page" regarding Anglo-Egyptian relations. He understands fully the importance of both the security of the Suez Canal and of free passage through the Canal, and is ready to discuss these points and to move toward a settlement. The Prime Minister wanted us to know that once Egypt is a part of the Middle East Command on an equal footing, Egypt would be an important factor for stabilization in the area and would be in a position to help regarding Northern Africa and a solution of the Palestine question. In reply to the Secretary's request for specific sug- gestions, the Ambassador said the Prime Minister had not supplied details but he assumed Maher had in mind the establishment of the MEC with a phased evacuation of British troops. Under the MEC arrangement other bases would be available in Egypt in addition to the Suez base. The Secretary said he thought. the way to make progress was for Egypt and the UK to start conversations and that, when the time is ripe, the US, France and Turkey would be ready to participate. He hoped the Prime Minister would be pre- - pared to talk specifically about all phases of the MEC, since generalities would not suffice. The US, he said, was anxious to be of the "greatest possible help to both our friends" FRANCO-GERMAN RELATIONS Representatives of the French Government in Bonn have informed our representatives, and those of the British, that French Foreign Minister Schuman prefers not to suggest Anglo-American intervention in the Saar crisis, as had been proposed by the Germans, since this might imply pressure on France. In substitution for the German pro- - posal, Schuman has instructed the French High Commissioner to deliver a SECRET SECURITY INF ORMA TTON