Nasser dangerous, Naguib agreed to Western plan: Documents
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British documents reveal how former Egyptian President Mohamed Naguib was involved in military agreements with the US and Britain in the Middle East.
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Egyptian President Mohamed Naguib addresses the crowds from his presidential palace after resuming his post as chief of state, Feb. 28, 1954 (AP Photo)
British documents obtained by the BBC revealed that the former Egyptian President Mohamed Naguib agreed to his country's participation in a US-British military project 70 years ago.
According to the BBC, if Naguib continued in power, the Middle East would have a defense organization in accordance with a joint US-British project.
The documents revealed a joint US-British agreement that states that Naguib's continuation in power serves the interests of the West in the Middle East and that care must be taken for his continuation in power.
In his memoirs, I Was President of Egypt, Naguib claimed that he did not accept at all Egypt’s participation in any military alliance in return for the evacuation of the occupying British forces from Egyptian lands and that the evacuation should be without any restriction or condition.
However, the documents obtained by the BBC reveal that the former Egyptian President agreed with the US and Britain to link the evacuation of British forces with Egypt's participation in the defense project.
The documents, which were classified as highly confidential, include recordings of seven rounds of secret talks between the United States and Britain in London between December 31, 1952, and January 7, 1953, to discuss what they agreed to call the "Egyptian Issue".
According to the documents, the political advisor at the US Embassy in Cairo, R. McClintock, revealed secret contacts between the Americans and Gamal Abdel Nasser, warning that the latter is a real danger to Naguib's policy, which the United States and Britain seek to perpetuate.
McClintock justified his perception by explaining that Abdel Nasser is responsible for the formation of liberation associations throughout Egypt, and in the event of the collapse of negotiations, there is a real danger that these associations may be used in a guerrilla war.
The US diplomat revealed that his country's embassy in Cairo warned Abdel Nasser of the danger and recklessness of this tactic.
