Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII

890G.6363/5–2945

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State (Grew)²

[Washington,] May 29, 1945.

Participants:	Nuri Pasha, former Prime Minister of Iraq.
	Iraqi Minister3
	Mr. Grew
	Mr. Phillips4
	Mr. Acheson5
	Mr. Clayton6
	Mr. MacLeish7
	Mr. Ralph A. Bard, Under Secretary of the Navy
	Mr. Charles P. Taft8
	Mr. Henderson

The Iraqi Minister and Nuri Pasha as-Said, former Prime Minister of Iraq and at present adviser to the Regent of Iraq, called upon Mr. Grew this afternoon in order to meet senior officers of the Department and to discuss several matters of interest both to the American Government and to the Iraqi Government.

Nuri Pasha stated that he hoped that the American Government would do everything possible in order to bring about an increase in the extraction of petroleum in Iraq. He pointed out that of the three great Iraqi petroleum fields, namely Mosul, Kirkuk and Basra, only the Kirkuk field was being exploited at the present time; that American interests owned approximately 23¾% of the Iraq Petroleum Company, which had concessions in all three fields; that unless the American shareholders were energetic in pushing the matter, he feared that the Iraq Petroleum Company would not endeavor to open up the Mosul and Basra fields since other shareholders of the company would not like Iraqi oil to compete with that of other companies in which they were interested, and that he hoped that the American shareholders, backed by the American Government, would take steps to bring about the opening of the Basra and Mosul fields, and also to increase the production of the Kirkuk field.

Nuri said that the Iraqi Government was particularly anxious for the construction of an additional pipeline from Kirkuk—that this pipeline should be 24 inches; that the British could not manufacture a pipe of so great a diameter; that the only country where such type of pipe could be purchased was the United States, and that he hoped the appropriate American authorities would agree to the export of the necessary 24-inch pipe to the Near East. He insisted that the American shareholders of the Iraq Petroleum Company, namely Socony Vacuum and Standard Oil of New Jersey, had told him that they could find the dollars for purchasing this pipe in case the American Government would be willing to permit its exportation.

After some discussion of Nuri Pasha’s statements, the officers present told him that they would transfer his request to the appropriate authorities of the American Government.

Nuri Pasha also expressed his hope that the Government of the United States would show more interest than it has in the past in the industrial development of Iraq and in trade with Iraq. He said that Iraq was anxious to strengthen its economic relations with the United States. It wanted to buy American equipment and materials and to obtain the services of American technicians. One of the difficulties involved, of course, was that of the lack of dollars at the disposal of Iraq. He hoped that means could be found to increase the purchasing power of Iraq in dollars; he added that it was his understanding that Great Britain was placing $14,000,000 at the disposal of Iraq to be used in making purchases in the United States during the remainder of the current year.

Mr. Grew expressed gratification at the desire of Iraq to strengthen its economic relations with the United States. He pointed out that one of the best ways to strengthen economic relations was to improve economic facilities. The United States shared Iraq’s desire for closer American-Iraqi economic relations; it therefore hoped that the Iraqi Government would look with favor upon proposals which the American Government had made that direct radio-telegraphic communications be established in the immediate future between Iraq and the United States⁹ and that Iraq grant the United States licensing privileges which would permit the operation of airlines from the United States to and through Iraq. Nuri Pasha stated that he was certain that arrangements would eventually be worked out which would make possible direct radio-telegraphic communications between Iraq and the United States and the operation of American airline between those countries. He said that he hoped that the American Government would have patience with the Iraqi Government in the matter since there were certain problems which must be solved before the proposals made by the United States could be agreed to. He stated that upon his return to Iraq he would take a personal interest in the matter.

Nuri Pasha thanked the Acting Secretary and the other officers present for the consideration and courtesy which had been shown to the Regent and to members of the Regent’s party while they were in Washington. After the conversation in the Acting Secretary’s office, Nuri Pasha was escorted to the office of Mr. Stettinius where he talked in greater detail with regard to American-Iraqi economic relations with officers of the Department intimately acquainted with various aspects of this situation.¹⁰

J[oseph] C. G[rew]

2. Drafted by Loy W. Henderson, Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs.
3. Ali Jawdat.
4. William Phillips, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State.
5. Dean Acheson, Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations.
6. William L. Clayton, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.
7. Archibald MacLeish, Assistant Secretary of State for Public and Cultural Relations.
8. Director of the Office of Transportation and Communications.
9. For documentation on this subject, see footnote 6, p. 1016; letter of August 22 from the Secretary of State to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, p. 1023; telegram 11003, October 20, noon, from London; and footnote 33, p. 1027.
10. Memorandum of May 29 by Evan M. Wilson of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs covering conversation by political and economic officers of the Department with Nuri Pasha and the Iraqi Minister, not printed; it stated that Nuri Pasha emphasized “the need for the exploiting of the Basra and Mosul concessions, particularly the former,” and that “Mr. Henderson and Mr. Loftus assured Nuri Pasha that the Department would bear in mind his remarks regarding the Basra concession.” (711.90G/5–2945) John A. Loftus was Acting Chief of the Petroleum Division.