641.74/11–251: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1
2325. Dept again raised with Brit Emb Nov 1 stoppage overland transport fuel supplies (Cairo’s 614 Oct 31, 617 and 624 Nov 12 and Deptel 2222 Oct 273). McGhee told Brit Min Steel decision re such stoppage too important to be made by mil auths alone and said in our view stoppage having effect contrary that desired by Brit mil. McGhee also mentioned consequences which such stoppage directed against Egypt civil population might have (Cairo’s 614 and 616 Oct 314).
Steel promised report Dept concern to FonOff but said he was sure we did not intend deny to UK means of retaliating to protect its position. McGhee said that only measure Brit have taken so far which causes real concern is stoppage fuel. Steel also said that [Page 417] although London had not instructed Robertson to stop fuel shipments, he felt Robertson cld be counted on to do nothing rash.
Dept hopes Emb will fol closely situation Egypt as reported Cairo’s tels and will keep before FonOff our view it is important nothing be permitted which wld cause further deterioration situation.
- Drafted by Stabler, approved for transmission and initialed by McGhee. Repeated to Cairo, Paris, and Ankara.↩
- None printed.↩
- Not printed; it reported that Department officials had called in representatives of the British Embassy and had told them of the Department’s great concern over recent British measures to cut off the fuel supply between the canal zone and Cairo (641.74/10–2751).↩
- Neither printed.↩