501.BC/8–2248: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iraq
us urgent
319. Reurtel 499, Aug. 22. 1. Possible successor to Syria on SC has been receiving close attention Dept for several weeks. No conclusive results as yet. Dept finds Jamali statement that Arab states desire Iraq succeed Syria and his belief that most Near Eastern states are willing to yield to an Arab state at variance with info received from other sources.
2. For your info Faris Bey El-Khouri1 informed Ross, USUN Aug 26 that Middle East would support Egypt to succeed Syria. On Aug 27 Fawzi Bey2 in conversation with Sec clearly inferred Egypt’s candidacy. Sec made no commitment other than to say that we were carefully considering question. He did observe that US would have to take into account fact Egypt was directly involved in two matters on SC agenda (Anglo-Egyptian question and Palestine case).3
3. On Aug 5 Sarper (Turkey) informed J. E. Johnson,4 USUN that he had been promised support of Greece, Iran and Afghanistan for Turkey’s candidacy for SC. He also said he had reason to believe [Page 126] that Arab group might support Turkey. Both Faris Bey and Fawzi Bey however have said within past week that since Turkey is on ECOSOC there is no reason to support her for SC. Finally Greek Amb here sounded out Dept Aug 30 on possible Greek candidacy. He maintained Greece had been assured support several Arab and Latin American countries.
4. Prior to last 10-day period Dept had no indication that Arab states were interested in obtaining SC seat. Accordingly Dept’s thinking until receipt urtel 499 and info described above from New York had centered on Turkey or India as possible successor to Syria with preference toward Turkey for SC and India for ECOSOC. In light changing developments matter will now have to be reviewed.
5. In general US would be disposed support candidate which had backing majority states in area unless there were compelling political Reasons to do otherwise. At present Dept is not able regard Iraq’s candidacy for SC as favorably as that of Turkey or India, particularly in light fact that contrary to what Jamali has told you Iraq does not seem to have support Arab or regional non-Arab states. Under present circumstances with Iraq on Trusteeship Council and in view Iraq’s militant stand on Palestine question Dept would be less favorably disposed to her candidacy than to others.
6. It is suggested you inform Jamali that US has not made up its mind whom it will support. In general we have attempted support states who have backing preponderance states in particular area.
7. Requested you and missions Athens, Ankara, Damascus and Cairo discretely endeavor learn what nation seems have support Arab and non-Arab countries in Middle Eastern area.5
- Permanent Representative of Syria at the United Nations; Chairman-designate of the Syrian Delegation to the Third Session of the General Assembly.↩
- Mahmoud Fawzi Bey, Permanent Representative of Egypt at the United Nations and Representative-designate on the Egyptian Delegation to the Third Session of the General Assembly.↩
- Documentation on these matters is scheduled for publication in volume v.↩
- Dr. Joseph E. Johnson was one of the ranking members of the United States Mission at the United Nations, being Deputy U.S. Representative on the Internal Committee of the General Assembly.↩
- Sent also to Athens (telegram 1275), Ankara (telegram 457), Cairo (telegram 1215), and Damascus (telegram 340); repeated to New York as telegram 573.↩