Department of State                     
 
                            Washington                      
 
                                                            
 
                   MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT             
 
      Subject: Telegram from Mr. Landis Regarding the Present Political 
                         Crisis in Egypt.                   
 
      Reference is made to telegram no. 973, April 20, noon addressed 
      to you by Mr. Landis regarding the present political. 
 
  The nature of this crisis may be summarized briefly as fol
 
      The king of Egypt has informed the British Ambassador that he 
      desires the dismissal of the Nahas Pasha, the present Prime Minister 
      to undermine the King and on account of the alleged corruption 
      of the present regime. The King proposed the establishment of 
      a government headed by the resent Chief of the Royal Cabinet. 
      The British Ambassador notified his Government of this development 
      and received a message from Mr.Churchill stating that this matter 
      is of such importance that it must be submitted to the British 
      Cabinet and instructing the British Ambassador to request that 
      the King not to take any action which might disturb the existing 
      situation. As may be noted, the British Ambassador informed the 
                 King of Mr. Churchill's request.           
 
                                                            
 
      It may be noted that, in the telegram under reference, Mr. Landis 
      states that he assumes that this Government has given consideration 
      to ten question of consulting with the British Government in 
            regard to the political crisis in Egypt.        
 
      Egypt is within an area of primarily British military responsibility. 
      Furthermore, the British Government has a treaty of close military 
      alliance with Egypt. In as much as the defense of Egypt is a 
      primary British responsibility, it is considered that in view 
      of the security angel, the present Egyptian political crisis 
      is of primary concern to the British Government rather than to 
      this Government. It is believed, therefore, that recent developments 
      in Egypt, at their present stage at least, need not be discussed 
      with the British by this Government. Since it is the primary 
      military responsibility of the British it is considered that % 
      the British should assume the initiative in dealing with the 
                         present crisis.                    
 
                               C.H.                         
 
                            Enclosure:                      
 
                    Paraphrase of telegram no.              
 
                    973, April 20, 1944, noon,              
 
                           from Cairo.