UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
November 15, 1952
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT: Secretary Acheson's Conversations with Foreign Ministers of the NEA area Attending the 7th General Assembly of the United Nations
PARTICIPANTS: Ahmed Farrag Tayeh, Foreign Minister of Egypt Mohamed Kamel Abdul Rahim, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S.
The Secretary Wells Stabler, U. S. Delegation
COPIES TO:
U. S. Delegation 7th GA Department Mr. Taylor Distribution to be determined by S/S Mr. Plitt (2) Mr. Ross SYG Reference DEPARTMENT Distribution to be determined by S/S
After an exchange of amenities the Foreign Minister said that the new regime in Egypt is endeavoring to settle outstanding issues. There is a new spirit in his country and it is important that progress be made to underscore this spirit. The Secretary replied that we were encouraged by the many signs of progress and remarked that the new Sudanese proposals seem to be a particularly hopeful sign.
The Foreign Minister said that the Sudan proposals had been a result of an agreement with all the Sudanese parties and he was hopeful that an agreement with the UK could be reached shortly. He pointed to the fact that elections are scheduled to be held in the Sudan at the end of this year and that therefore it is necessary to arrive at an understanding with the British as soon as possible. He understood that the
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British find certain difficulties with the proposals, particularly with respect to the limitation on the Sudanese on the choice of either independence or unity. The Minister asserted that the Sudanese did not desire dominion status and therefore no reference was made in the proposals to dominion status as a possible choice. While Mr. Farrag hoped that it would be possible to reach an understanding with the British, he felt that U.S. pressure on the UK would assist.
The Secretary said that the U.S. would try to be as helpful as possible in this, and mentioned that he had discussed this question with Mr. Eden a few days ago who appeared to be favorable inclined.
Mr. Farrag then said that while Egypt appreciated U.S. sympathy for a new regime, Egypt hoped that this sympathy could be turned into material support. Egypt was in need of financial, economic and military assistance. He expressed the hope that the U.S. would find it possible to purchase additional cotton from Egypt for stockpiling purposes. He also hoped that military equipment might be made available. He asserted that Egypt had been endeavoring to create a favorable atmosphere for such a program and cited the approval of his government for payment of compensation to the British for those who had lost their lives during the January 26 riots.
The Secretary said that Egyptian action approving compensation had been most helpful in creating a favorable atmosphere. Turning to a possible program of assistance the Secretary said that the U.S. was prepared to discuss this matter with the Egyptians with the view to determining what might be done. He informed the Foreign Minister that export licenses for commercial police equipment had already been approved. Mr. Stabler said that we had gone into the question of cotton purchases and found that at the present moment there was no further need for stockpile purchases. With regard to commercial purchases it appeared that at least for the time being, there was no commercial need for Egyptian long staple varieties. The Ambassador inquired whether it might not be possible to purchase cotton, even if the U.S. did not need it, for the purpose of assisting Egypt financially. The Secretary then inquired as to the possibilities of Japanese purchase of Egyptian cotton since Japan had considerable sterling balances. Mr. Stabler said that that matter had been looked into and it appeared that a Japanese trade mission was either in Cairo or on its way for the purpose of working out a trade agreement. Mr. Stabler stated his understanding that previous negotiations between Egypt and Japan had been made difficult by problems of financing and exchange.
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Mr. Farrag said that Egypt needed dollars and that was the reason for his request to the Secretary. The Secretary assured the Minister that we would follow this question closely and see whether there was anything that might be done.
Referring to the police equipment the Minister said that the Ambassador would be receiving instructions regarding this question but he wondered whether it might not be possible to extend the scope of these purchases. In this connection he said that Egypt found it very difficult to purchase military equipment in the U.S. and that other sources such as Sweden and Switzerland had been cut off. It was only recently that some progress had been made with some of these countries. The Secretary again said that we were prepared to discuss this whole matter with the Egyptians and asked Mr. Stabler to follow these matters with the Minister before the Foreign Minister's departure for Cairo on November 21. The Minister said that he would report the conversation to General Naguib and arrangements for discussions would be worked out. The Secretary said it might be desirable to do this through military channels.
Mr. Farrag then turned to the problem of German-Israel reparations and said that this question had caused Egypt considerable concern because of the vast amount of heavy equipment which was being made available to Israel. This equipment would greatly increase Israel's war potential. The Minister wished to assure the Secretary that Egypt had no aggressive intentions toward Israel but that the Arab states greatly feared Israel's intentions. Mr. Farrag went on to say that Arab public opinion had been inflamed by the idea that the U.S. had exerted pressure on Germany to sign this agreement. The Secretary said this simply was not true and he hoped the Minister would dispel such an idea. Mr. Stabler said that Mr. Jamali, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, had told him a few days before that the permanent German observer at the United Nations had told Jamali that there had been no US pressure. The Secretary also cited statements of Adenauer in support of this contention. Mr. Farrag then made the personal suggestion that the US issue a statement to the effect that no pressure had been exerted on the Germans to conclude such an agreement. The Secretary said he would give the suggestion his consideration but his initial reaction was not favorable. The Minister then said that he was going to make a statement in the General Assembly answering the aggressive statement by Mr. Eban at the Plenary Session on November 13. He said he did not accept
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Israel's statements about the flaunting by Egypt of U.N. resolutions, such as the Security Council resolution of September 1, 1951. In this latter connection Egypt was entirely within its rights and in any event it had only placed contraband control on 6 items, not on the whole list as it is allowed to do under international law.
Mr. Stabler said that he hoped the Minister would not find it necessary to make such a statement as there had already been a complete round between Israel and the Arab states on this issue and further statements would simply complicate matters and arouse passions. Mr. Farrag said that he felt obliged to reply.
The Minister and Ambassador then thanked the Secretary for his courtesy in receiving them and took their leave.
Wells Stabler/sg