682.90D/7–1254
No. 218
Memorandum of Conversation, by the
Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs (Dorsey)
Subject:
- Turkey–Pakistan Pact and Military Aid for Iraq; Iraq–Syria Confederation.
Participants:
- Dr. Fadhil Jamali, Foreign Minister of Iraq
- Musa Shabandar, Ambassador of Iraq
- The Secretary
- NE—Mr. Dorsey
After greeting Dr. Jamali, the Secretary expressed his satisfaction at the current status of American-Iraq relations, with particular emphasis on the recent arms agreement.2 He remarked that we had concluded the agreement with the understanding that the military support of Iraq would not be used against Israel; and he emphasized the importance the U.S. placed on the northern tier defense concept, and our hope that Iraq would soon move toward association with the Turk-Pakistan Pact.
Dr. Jamali replied by referring to Iraq’s long leadership in the defense of the Middle East against Communism; and he assured the Secretary that Iraq would not attack Israel unless she was attacked. Iraq, however, desired assurance that the U.S. would not allow and would punish aggression by Israel. Regarding the regional defense organization, Dr. Jamali said that the Iraqis hoped that through association with Turkey, Pakistan, and Iraq [Irani?] they may not only cooperate in the defense of the area against the danger from the north, but that they may see a change in the atmosphere of Turkey’s association with Israel. They hoped that Turkey would cease being “partial” to Israel. He said that the Iraq government’s problem was that of carrying its people with it in pro-Western moves such as the arms aid program and regional defense. He asked that initial shipment of US military equipment arrive in Iraq at the earliest practicable date in quantities which his countrymen would view as impressive and which they might readily identify as a U.S. contribution.
Dr. Jamali said he wished to bring to the Secretary’s attention the movement for confederation of Iraq, Syria and Jordan,3 a [Page 524] project which he hoped the U.S. Government would support. He described preliminary talks which he had recently had with certain Syrian leaders regarding Iraqi-Syrian confederation. The Syrian reception of the idea had been most favorable provided that they could obtain “a green light from the U.S.”. If the U.S. grants such approval, he said, they promised that they are ready to become a part of the area defense system. Touching on the political instability of Syria, and the economic difficulties of Jordan, he stressed his belief that any successful steps towards unification would be good for the stability of the Middle East. The people are actually one from the point of view of race, culture and religion, and their unification in the field of economics, politics and defense would be a tremendous step towards the solidification and pacification of the Middle East. Based on careful calculations this confederation could provide 12 armed divisions for the defense of the area. Dr. Jamali asked the Secretary to consider the matter and let him have his reactions in as positive a sense as possible.
The Secretary replied that we would not wish to obstruct the peaceful will of the people concerned if they wished to take such steps. However, he saw certain difficulties. If Iraq joins with Syria and Jordan it will be associated with two countries which have common borders with Israel and the problems resulting therefrom. The Israeli problem would be further complicated by such action, and Iraq would become directly involved in the Jordan–Israel border problem. Dr. Jamali said that the adherence of Jordan, which involved special problems, to the confederation could be deferred. He stressed the economic aspects of Iraqi-Syrian confederation and pointed out Iraq’s need for access to the Mediterranean and a united approach to the development of the Euphrates. Syria, on the other hand, needs the Iraq market for her products and her financial assistance and development. Reiterating that he would not oppose confederation if the peoples involved wished to undertake it peaceably, the Secretary said he would study the problem, although he could not say that it filled him with enthusiasm.
Dr. Jamali mentioned his hope that the U.S. would establish an educational institution in Iraq, saying that he had been assured that the Department would investigate the possibility of interesting the Rockefeller Foundation in the project. The Secretary said he would have the matter looked into.
- Prepared on July 15.↩
- For documentation on the arms agreement, see Documents 1376 ff.↩
- For additional documentation on this topic, see Documents 381 ff.↩