740.0011 European War 1939/5730: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt ( Fish ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 26—6:55 a.m.]
213. Department’s 102, September 23, 6 p.m. The Legation’s No. 211, September 23, 3 p.m. which apparently crossed the Department’s telegram under reference is believed to have covered most of the points on which the Department desired to be informed. In recapitulation it may be said:
1. That the King is definitely anti-British and opposed to Egypt’s entry into the war at the side of Great Britain.
2. That the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, while maintaining that the Egyptian Government will by its declaration to defend the country, are in fact opposed to Egypt’s taking up arms except in case of absolute necessity and are disposed to seize upon any likely excuse to avoid so doing, the pretext now advanced being that it is not clear that the Italian advance into Egyptian territory should be regarded as a planned invasion.
3. That, except for followers of Ahmed Maher and a few other persons, the people do not feel that this is Egypt’s war, are fearful of the consequences of entry into the war and are strongly opposed to such action.
4. That the British after having pressed for months for a declaration of war and while they would still welcome such action by Egypt, are apparently resigned to the fact that, given the strong popular opposition to such action, the best policy is not to attempt for the time being to force the issue.
In the event of an advance or prospective advance by the Italians into the Nile Valley itself it is possible that the Egyptian Government and people might take a less apathetic attitude particularly if effective [Page 482] British pressure were applied. By that time, however, given Egypt’s military unpreparedness, it might well be a matter of indifference to the British whether Egypt elected to remain a cooperative nonbelligerent or to become an active ally.