DEFENCES OF EGYPT

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26662, 22 February 1952, Page 7

DEFENCES OF EGYPT

Threat By Soviet Discussed

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 21. Discussions in 1950 between the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (Field-Marshal Sir William Slim) and the then Egyptian Prime Minister (Nahas Pasha) on the course Russia was likely to adopt should she decide to invade the Middle East through Egypt, are contained in a Green Book published by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Sir William Slim is quoted as saying that in the event of war Russia would use 10 to 15 divisions. These could be expected to reach Egypt within four months, probably through Persia. A passage in the Green Book reporting the conversation on June 5, 1950, reads:

Sir William Slim: The Middle East is one of Russia’s main objectives because its loss would be a great blow, not only in the Middle East, but also to all Europe. Any attack on the Middle East would be directed at Egypt. Who holds Egypt holds the key to the Middle East. We have drawn up a defence plan in Iran and Turkey. The other Middle East countries are not strong enough. Turkey alone has some power. If war comes, air attacks will be a matter of hours.

Nahas Pasha: By which route will the Russian troops come? Sir William Slim: They will come by way of Iran or Turkey, and can reach Egypt in four months. They will use from 10 to 15 divisions. They can be delayed for some time if Turkey holds out.

At a subsequent meeting in July, 1950, Sir William Slim said that the air attack would be more swift and sudden and the bombing of the canal could be expected within a few houfs of war. For this reason he insisted that British and Egyptian anti-aircraft defence must be thoroughly co-ordin-ated.

He is quoted as saying: “The air defence of Egypt is something that must be ready at once. What I picture is combined air defence of Egypt. I do not mind under what command, but in that air defence we must have British air units. We are the only people that have them and know how to use them.”

Egyptian Attitude Salah el Din Pasha, then the Egyptian Foreign Minister, who was present at this meeting, refused to accept the British view. He said that Egypt would keep all installations in good order and on the outbreak of war British air squadrons could return “in a few Lours.”

He said that British fighter planes would be faster than Russian bombers, and have a shorter distance to move.

The military correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian,# commenting on these discussions says: “Whether the record is accurate, one cannot tell. It is certainly plausible. To some observers the period of four months before the invading Soviet armies could reach Egypt will seem surprisingly long, and the estimated size of the Soviet force surprisingly small. “The explanation may lie not only in the priority which the Russian forces would presumably give to operations in Europe. .It may also lie in the problems which they wotild face in crossing the Syrian desert. . “If they broke quickly through from Persia into Syria and Iraq—as Sir William Slim seems to expect—they will, still face 250 miles of glesert before reaching the richer lands near the Mediterranean.

“To move a large force across the desert and keep it supplied would be difficult, if not impossible.” Referring to air defence, the correspondent says that the discussions took place months before the Four Power proposal of a joint Middle East Command

He adds: “The plan would now have to be modified, but the items which Sir William Slim then said must be organised in common would still hold good. They were airfields, and communications between them, radar and an observers' corps, and anti-aircraft gunners.”