Office of the Historian

80. Message to Washington1

No. 78
Cairo, February 7, 1956.
1.
Nasr’s letter to President2 given … by Ali Sabri today,3 is being pouched.
2.
Sabri repeated warning that Nasr would be forced deny discussions if there any indication serious leak. Said there had been [Page 148] however no further press statements which worried PriMin about possibility of leak.
3.
… handed Sabri paper setting forth items for discussion and continuing review in support Anderson mission.4 Plans made for joint effort:
A.
Estimate Nasr’s capabilities with regard settlement
B.
Work out time table
C.
Prepare plan for preparation of Arab public opinion for final announcement, and
D.

Formulate agreed Egypt/U.S. statement of area objectives.

Sabri unusually interested and cooperative this discussion.

4.
Practical measures to carry out what Nasr has called essential first stage then discussed, namely general easing of tensions. Sabri’s suggestions as follows:
A.
Return general situation to state Feb 55.
B.
Stop public statements by Israel to effect that area tensions due Arab warlike intentions.
C.
Withdrawal troops by both sides a set distance behind armistice line.
5.
In general discussion Sabri made much of fact that general psych situation now would make announcement of settlement difficult or impossible. He made point that capability Egypt control refugees and nomads on Israeli border direct result general psych situation.
6.
… made effort explain there no point talking about easing tensions unless each side took positive steps give assurance to other side of its intentions and desire for easing tensions. Sabri accepted fact Egypt as well as Israel would have to do something about this.
7.
Meeting planned for 8 Feb at which specific plans for easing tensions and timetable whole operation will be discussed.5
8.
1130Z 6 Feb.
  1. Source: Department of State, NEA Files: Lot 59 D 518, Alpha—Anderson Talks w/BG & Nasser. Incoming Telegrams—Jan.–March 1956. Part I. Secret. The source text bears a notation that Dulles saw the message.↩
  2. See Document 75.↩
  3. February 6.↩
  4. No copy of this document has been found in Department of State files.↩
  5. See Document 85.↩