29. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State1
Dulte 4. At lunch today (February 23),Eden said he had discussed Arab-Israel problem with Nasser.Nasser did not react unfavorably but said any settlement would have to be on overall basis and could not be just a settlement of Jordan frontiers.Nasser implied Egypt has open mind but said problem was one of timing.Eden seemed to think what Nasser had in mind here was Iraqi-Turkish Pact, which apparently is consuming his attention.Nasser did advance thesis that territorial contiguity with other Arab states was important to Egypt and he indicated that idea of corridor was unsatisfactory.
I told Eden US was prepared to assume responsibilities and obligations to bring about settlement this problem (along lines suggested recent Washington talks) but that it must be consummated within next twelve months, and explained why this consideration of timing affected US approach.
I told Eden we would like to be able to give Nasser support for position of leadership to which he aspired in Arab world but that we could not do this until Arab-Israel problem was settled. I said we had been able to help Iraqis because they had no common border with Israel but that rendering additional assistance to Arab states contiguous to Israel prior to an Arab-Israel settlement was quite a different matter. I said Nasser should take these considerations into account.
Eden said he would advise London on urgency of moving ahead. I mentioned that Russell was going to London to follow up recent Washington talks.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/2–2455. Top Secret; Alpha; Limit Distribution. Repeated to London. Received at 3:31 p.m. Secretary Dulles was in Bangkok attending the first meeting of the SEATO Council of Ministers, February 23–25.↩