COMMENT ON NASIR'S LETTER TO PRESIDENT-ELECT NIXON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01737A001500040006-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2000
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: January 10, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

,,' Approved For Rase 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79BV37AO01500040006-9
SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEM
BACKGROUND USE ONLY/EXDIS
10 January 1969
1 MORANDt3M
SUBJECT Comment on Naeir's letter to President-elect Nixon
January 1969
1. Nasir's letter of 5 January to President-elect
Richard Nixon is a lengthy, dogmatic, and somewhat florid
rastatetent of the Arab position. Mere is nothing new in
the letter, which may have. been largely designed to open a chan-
nel of communication. It offers no fresh approach towards
Egyptian-American relation--in fact, it is something of a
step backwards--and seems to be a rather clumsy plea for
American understanding of Egypt's viewpoint. It may well have
been written with an eye to building the record and to
eventual publication in the Arab world, and accordingly
reaffirms Nasir'a thoroughly Arab position.
2. Nasir refers approvingly to Governor Scranton's
fact-finding mission. He then launches into a review of
Egypt's grievances towards'the United States since 1956 in
a mood of unmistakable bitterness and disillusionment, even
speaking of "a last attempt before it is too late." If his
intention was to arouse sympathy, his approach is curiously
inept; for example, he includes a gratuitous reference to the
tremendous progress being made on the Aswan Dam. This is
followed almost immediately by praise for "that superb attitude
taken by President Dwight Eisenhower's administration in
1956," which he calls "the last outstanding American position
adopted towards the entire drab nation"---a not-too-subtle
appeal to partisan feelings.
3. Nasir undiplomatically charges that the US bears
"at least morally" a great responsibility for the June War,
since the US appealed to Egypt to exercise self-restraint and
E