249. Memorandum on the Substance of Discussions at the Department of State–Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Washington, June 27, 1957, 11 a.m.1
[Here follows a list of 26 persons present, including Admiral Radford, General Twining, Admiral Felt, and General Pate. The Department of State delegation included Henderson, Reinhardt, Mathews, Bennett, Rockwell, Stevens, and Eilts. Item 1 of the memorandum concerned “Distribution of Baghdad Pact Military Committee Documents.”]
[Page 554]2. Baghdad Pact Ministerial Council Session at Karachi
In his brief discussion of the Karachi meeting Mr. Henderson expressed his personal appreciation, as well as his official commendation, of the outstanding role played in the Karachi talks by General Twining. He paid tribute to the calm influence exerted by General Twining in the discussions and made mention of the great respect in which General Twining had obviously been held by the representatives of other nations present at the meeting. In discussing the meeting General Twining said he had been confronted with heavy pressure for the establishment of a command structure and that he was sure these pressures would continue. He stressed the difficult nature of the problem. Mr. Henderson admitted the difficulties but said that the State Department did not feel the time is yet ripe for setting up the command structure. Admiral Radford pointed out that we cannot participate in the command structure if we are not members of the Baghdad Pact and that even membership in the Pact might be going too far at this stage of affairs. He expressed the view that the compromise solution worked out at the meeting was a reasonable solution and should be an adequate arrangement for the foreseeable future. He recalled that the Chiefs had not welcomed joining the Military Committee, but he went on to say that being a member of the Military Committee without membership in the Pact itself would place us in a difficult position. Mr. Henderson agreed with Admiral Radford’s view and said that that was further testimony to the importance of Ambassador Gallman’s being fully informed of current developments in the Military Committee. General Twining at this point praised Ambassador Gallman’s qualities and bespoke his personal confidence in the Ambassador.
Admiral Radford referred to the many national rivalries in the Middle East and the desire of some members of the Pact to use the organization for local or regional situations. Mr. Henderson stressed that he had pointed out firmly at the Karachi meeting that the U.S. views the Pact as a common defense against communism and not as a vehicle for use in connection with regional disputes. Admiral Radford commented that we must take account of that position in our instructions to the Deputy Director of Planning. He went on to express the view that Iran shares our view on the proper scope of the Pact. Turkey also shares our view but is more careful in expressing its views publicly due to relations with Iraq and general interest in the Near East area. These nations agree with us that Syria may fall under communist domination, but Admiral Radford suggested that, in such an event, the situation could be better handled under the American doctrine rather than by use of the Baghdad Pact. Mr. Henderson agreed with Admiral Radford’s view.
[Page 555][Here follow item 3, “Proposal for NATO Stockpile of Atomic Weapons;” item 4, “Military Activities on the Chinese Off Shore Islands;” and item 5, “Operation Alert.”]
- Source: Department of State, State–JCS Meetings: Lot 61 D 417. Top Secret.↩