740.0011 European War 1939/4502: Telegram
The Chargé in Egypt (Hare) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:05 p.m.]
138. The Legation is reliably informed that the British authorities have proposed to the Egyptian Government that since Egypt is apparently not disposed to enter the war certain Egyptian military material particularly artillery and mechanized equipment should be turned over to the British Army in Egypt which is short of such materials. The proposal is understood to make provision for compensation.
The reactions of the Egyptian Government to the proposal is not yet known but it would seem from first indications that it may develop into a highly contentious issue since aside from British need for such material it is believed that a motivating factor was probably distrust by the British of the Egyptian Army.