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Flat Rejection. The U.S. has several times offered to supply Nasser with arms. Neither the Mutual Security Act nor direct-grant aid requires a mutual-security treaty, but a standard form of agreement is demanded by act of Congress. Said Nasser: "We flatly rejected these conditions, partly because this is an infringement on our freedom, and partly because we have always insisted that Egypt should follow an independent policy." Last August an arms deal between the U.S. and Egypt actually got to the stage of listing items required, but lapsed when Egypt failed to produce the cash.
When they heard the news of Nasser's decision to deal with the Communist bloc. Secretary of State Dulles and British Foreign Secretary Macmillan, meeting in New York, issued a joint communique stating that their governments had acted "to avoid an arms race," and hoping that "other governments will continue to be guided by the same principles." Added Macmillan: "A heavy responsibility will lie with any country that introduces any new and disturbing factor into the delicate Middle East situation." Dulles sent Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs George V. Allen on a flying trip to Cairo to try to dissuade Nasser from making the deal. In Israel an emergency session of the Knesset was called. Said the afternoon Ma 'ariv: "We have warned U.S. officials a thousand times that Western attempts to woo the Arabs would lead to the West being blackmailed by the Arabs."
But the Communists were responding fast to opportunity's knock. In Cairo Soviet Ambassador Daniel Solod, credited with having masterminded the Czech arms deal, held a long session with Nasser. Asked by a reporter if he thought the West had any right to object to the Czech arms deal, he snapped: "What right?" Solid Solod also conferred with Lebanese Ambassador Khalil Takieddine, thus giving credence to a rumor that Russia was preparing to extend her arms offer to other Arab countries. Said Arab League Secretary Ahmad Shukairy: "I don't see any difference between oranges and ammunition. Oranges are purchased where the price is right and where the taste is best."
When it came time to see the U.S.'s Allen, Nasser first kept him waiting an hour and a half in his anteroom, then apparently gave him little satisfaction. At week's end, addressing a graduating class of cadets at the Cairo Military Academy, the 37-year-old Premier showed every sign of going ahead with the Czech deal, poured scorn on the Western powers for their objections. "Their anecdote about the balance of power is a trick to fool world opinion," said Nasser. Stolen French and British intelligence documents, he said, showed that the Israeli army had been heavily armed by the Allies and was planning to attack Egypt. "But now," he said, "we are rich with faith, sacrifice, men and arms. We shall proceed forward."