{"record":{"aliases":["Mustafa Kamel","Mostafa Kamil","مصطفى كامل"],"appointmentIds":["egypt-584674e5b8891f"],"appointmentsDataset":"https://chanceries.org/diplomats.json","archivalSources":[],"canonicalUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/mostafa-kamel-7b89596c5e/","countrySlug":"egypt","entityId":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/mostafa-kamel-7b89596c5e/#person","eventIds":["egypt-rupture-1967"],"expandedParagraphs":["Mostafa Kamel represented the United Arab Republic in Washington from August 1958 and repeatedly tried to keep political disagreements from closing channels of cooperation. Preparing for Gamal Abdel Nasser’s September 1960 visit to the United Nations, he sought both strong security arrangements and a discreetly warm American welcome. State Department officials explained that visiting leaders would be treated as heads of UN delegations, with limited special hospitality. Kamel acknowledged that he had no instructions to make particular requests, but offered to relay American concerns about public statements that might damage relations.","Food assistance gave him another means of pursuing a closer relationship. On 7 June 1961, he suggested to Senator J. William Fulbright that placing assistance under Public Law 480 on a multiyear basis would improve relations. Fulbright’s account reached the White House, where Walt Rostow discussed the idea with Under Secretary George Ball and proposed contacting Food for Peace director George McGovern.","By July 1965, Kamel was arguing that renewed wheat supplies had become essential to Egypt’s political independence. Secretary of State Dean Rusk told him that congressional consideration of the aid bill and the public atmosphere made immediate negotiations difficult. Kamel warned that Egypt would obtain food elsewhere if Washington refused, and that reliance on Communist suppliers could erode its nonalignment. Rusk rejected a categorical commitment and emphasized the administration’s obligation to consult Congress.","The channel remained active during the June 1967 war, but could not prevent rupture. At 2:30 p.m. on 6 June, Assistant Secretary Lucius Battle met Kamel, forcefully denied Egyptian accusations of American air support for Israel, and expressed regret that Cairo had chosen to break relations on that basis. Battle said that the United States would treat the United Arab Republic and its representatives reciprocally."],"id":"egypt:mostafa kamel","identifiers":{},"legacyPersonIds":[],"legacyUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplomat-7b89596c5e3b3a7c0830.html","name":"Mostafa Kamel","notes":[],"paragraphSources":[["protocol","kamel1960"],["ge-kamel-food-1961"],["ge-kamel-food-1965"],["kamel1967"]],"profileUrl":"diplomat-7b89596c5e3b3a7c0830.html","relatedEvents":[{"basis":"documented-participant","country":"Egypt","date":"1967-06-06","description":"Egypt breaks relations with Washington during the June war, alleging American air support for Israel. U.S. officials deny the charge, and both countries turn to interests sections under other embassies.","id":"egypt-rupture-1967","note":"Kamel met Eugene Rostow on 5 June and Lucius Battle on 6 June 1967, as documented in FRUS documents 162 and 178.","sourceUrls":["https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v19/d178","https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v19/d162","https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/93806.htm","https://history.state.gov/countries/egypt"],"title":"Diplomatic relations are severed","url":"Egypt.html#history-egypt-rupture-1967"}],"relatedPeople":[],"relationships":[],"researchStatus":"limited","reviewedOn":"2026-11-02","revision":"fee90a94a6477213","sources":[{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":null,"id":"protocol","locator":"Chronological list, 1924–2015","publisher":"U.S. Department of State, Office of the Chief of Protocol","title":"Diplomatic Representation for Egypt, Arab Republic of (formerly United Arab Republic)","type":"primary-record","url":"https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/93806.htm"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":"1960-09-14","id":"kamel1960","locator":"September 14, 1960","publisher":"Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State","title":"Memorandum of Conversation","type":"primary-record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v13/d263"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":"1967-06-06","id":"kamel1967","locator":"June 6, 1967, footnote 2","publisher":"Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State","title":"Telegram From the Embassy in the United Arab Republic to the Department of State","type":"primary-record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v19/d178"},{"accessedOn":"2026-11-02","date":null,"id":"ge-kamel-food-1961","inspection":{"inspectedOn":"2026-11-02","language":"en","representation":"secondary_account","scope":"Published FRUS editorial account inspected. Original manuscript, agreement, or telephone record cited by the editors not separately inspected.","status":"document_inspected"},"locator":"FRUS 1961–1963, vol. XVII, document 64, opening two paragraphs; Kennedy Library, National Security Files, United Arab Republic, 1/61–6/61, and Ball telephone conversations","publisher":"Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State","title":"Editorial note, Kamel’s multiyear food-assistance proposal to Fulbright","type":"official-historical-account","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1961-63v17/d64"},{"accessedOn":"2026-11-02","date":"1965-07-26","id":"ge-kamel-food-1965","inspection":{"inspectedOn":"2026-11-02","language":"en","representation":"published_transcription","scope":"Cited passage of the published English diplomatic transcription and relevant editorial notes. Original archival document not separately inspected.","status":"document_inspected"},"locator":"FRUS 1964–1968, vol. XVIII, document 229, pp. 481–482; RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, AID (US) 15–4 UAR; telegram 600","publisher":"Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State","title":"Rusk telegram, Kamel’s request for a new food agreement","type":"primary-record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v18/d229"}],"topics":["United Arab Republic","1967 rupture"]},"schemaVersion":1}