Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East Region; Iran; Iraq, Volume XII

282. Memorandum on the Substance of Discussion at the Department of State–Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Pentagon, Washington, December 13, 1957, 11:30 a.m.¹

Washington, December 13, 1957, 11:30 a.m.

[Here follows a list of 26 persons present, including Admiral Burke, General White, Lieutenant General McCaul, Vice Admiral Austin, and Lieutenant General Eddleman. The Department of State delegation included Murphy, Rountree, and Robertson. The portion of the memorandum concerning Item 1, “The Middle East Problem,” is printed in volume XVII, pages 852–856.]

2. Middle East Military Representative

Mr. Murphy referred to the fact that in the previous discussion of this matter the Department had expressed agreement in principle to the creation of a Middle East Military Representative. He noted that no specific proposals had yet come from the Joint Chiefs regarding a location in the area where a headquarters for this officer might be established. He said that in the Department’s view it was extremely difficult to find one satisfactory location and suggested that as an initial proposition it might be desirable to establish the Middle East Military Representative here in Washington. Mr. Rountree concurred in the difficulties of finding an appropriate place to put such a headquarters in light of current political difficulties. He noted that wherever in the area it might be placed it would provide an effective target for communist propaganda. In light of these facts as a pilot operation Washington might be the most desirable location.

General Eddleman inquired whether Libya might not be a satisfactory site. Mr. Rountree conceded that our present position in Libya was reasonably satisfactory, but warned that the presence of a military headquarters along the lines proposed might focus undesirable attention on Libya and change the context of our relationships there with the risk that our position might be seriously undermined. It would seem likely that the Middle Eastern states would attribute much more importance to such an operation than would probably be intended by the United States. He pointed out that Turkey, as a member of NATO as well as the Baghdad Pact, presented definite political obstacles with regard to many of the Middle Eastern states.

General Eddleman expressed the opinion that little could be accomplished by locating the headquarters in Washington. Admiral Burke likewise felt that it would be difficult for the Middle East Military Representative and his staff to maintain adequate contact with developments and personalities in the area if they were forced to operate from Washington.

Mr. Murphy inquired what the jurisdiction of the proposed Military Representative would be—whether his authority would extend from Casablanca to Iran. Admiral Burke replied that this had not been defined and would depend somewhat on the site selected for his headquarters.

Mr. Rountree acknowledged that Turkey would be the least undesirable location, and Mr. Murphy promised to take another look at the possibility of establishing a headquarters for the Middle East representative in Turkey.

[Here follow Item 3, “Indonesia,” and Item 4, “Berlin.”]

1. Source: Department of State, State–JCS Meetings: Lot 61 D 417. Top Secret. A note on the cover sheet reads: “State Draft. Not cleared with Department of Defense.”