Office of the Historian

120.4382/4–2154: Circular telegram

No. 207
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions1

confidential
Washington, April 21, 1954—8:16 p.m.

377. Agenda for Istanbul Conference will remain flexible since sessions will be informal and discussion need not be limited these topics. Nevertheless urge you consider following points as they affect your country.

[Page 498]

You should also be prepared give brief analysis (say 10 to 15 minutes) of major problems your country of regional significance. Formal or detailed country-by-country reports not required.

Not anticipated following points will all be discussed in detail but hoped they will assist conference arrive at recommendations effectively strengthening US policy.

I. Security in Middle East and South Asia.

1.
Prospects of expanding Turk–Pak Agreement.
a.
Best means of giving encouragement and assistance while maintaining indigenous initiative.
b.
How closely should military aid be tied to pact?
2.
Potential political advantages and disadvantages from expanded agreement.
a.
Effect on Arab League and general orientation including neutralism of area.
b.
Effect on area disputes, e.g., Pak-Indian, Arab–Israeli.
3.
Military advantages.
a.
Prospects of building useful local forces.
b.
Effect of UK or French association.
c.
Possible size US investment required.

II. Arab Unity.

1.
Present state of Arab League. Its prospects. Our policy.
2.
Shifting role of various members. Their rivalries and disputes.
3.
Prospects for merger of Arab states, especially Fertile Crescent. Effects on neighboring states. Should US change present policy?

III. Arab–Israeli Tension.

1.
Elements of problem:
a.
Intentions and capabilities Israel and Arab states.
b.
Recent US policy and its limitations.
2.
Specific issues:
a.
Usefulness UN in disputes. Should UNTSO be strengthened? If so, how?
b.
What can US do outside UN?
c.
How can Soviet–Arab “alliance” be prevented?
d.
What should US policy be if open warfare occurs on border?
e.
Any prospects for solution of Jerusalem problem?
f.
Prospects for negotiations on issues with various Arab states, including role of Egypt.
g.
Arab boycott, free transit of Suez.
3.
Unified Plan for Jordan Valley.
a.
Present status. Future strategy.
b.
Relation to aid program and boundary question.

IV. Oil.

1.
Impact on Iran settlement on area.
2.
Status oil problems in Arab states.
3.
Guideposts of long-range oil policy; US Govt posture toward American companies and toward Govts of oil producing and transit states.

V. Aid Programs (Economic and Military).

1.
Status of present programs in area. Problems involved.
2.
Report on Congressional prospects.
3.
Effects in area of following alternatives:
a.
Elimination most military and grant economic aid.
b.
Continuation approximately present program.
c.
Continuation present program with more emphasis loans.
4.
Appraisal long-term prospects economic and military aid programs achieving US objectives.

VI. Policies of Other Powers in the Area.

1.
Soviet activities:
a.
Effects of increased USSR interest. Analysis of effectiveness of Soviet techniques.
b.
Methods of combating Arab-Soviet alignment.
2.
Indian activities in area. Should counter-measures be taken?
3.
Are there any significant recent developments re policies of other powers (UK, France, Germany) which merit special attention?2

VII. Border Disputes (of concern to countries directly involved only).

1.
Iran–Pakistan–Afghanistan.
2.
Iran–Iraq.
3.
Iran–UK (Bahrein).
4.
Saudi Arabia–UK (Trucial Coast, Buraimi, Qatar, Oman, Hadhramant).
5.
Yemen–UK (Aden Protectorate).
Smith
  1. Drafted by Hadsel and cleared by NEA and S/S–CR. Sent to Amman, Ankara, Athens, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Istanbul, Jidda, Kabul, Karachi, London, Paris, Rome, Tehran, Tel Aviv, and Tripoli.↩
  2. Originally there had also been a paragraph 4 which read, before deletion: “U.K. position in Egypt, Iraq and Jordan: implications for U.S. short-range and long-range interests.”↩