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

36. Memorandum of Discussion at the 247th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, May 5, 1955¹

Washington, May 5, 1955

[Here follow a paragraph listing the participants at the meeting and items 1–4 on the status of the internal security program, significant world developments affecting U.S. security, the Austrian State Treaty, and Yugoslavia.]

5. United States Objectives and Policies With Respect to the Near East (NSC 5428; Progress Report, dated April 7, 1955, by the OCB on NSC 5428²)

Mr. Anderson briefed the Council on the main points made in the reference Progress Report, and inquired whether the Planning Board should proceed forthwith to a revision of NSC 5428 or delay the matter for a time.

The President said that for the moment he would hold up on revising the present policy on the Near East. The Planning Board should await word from the State Department as to timing. If the State Department decides that a revision should be undertaken, the Planning Board could proceed.

Secretary Hoover said that the United States was confronted with many difficult problems in the Middle East. One of the most difficult was our over-all military and political objectives for the area. The Departments of State and Defense, he added, were setting up a committee, at the Assistant Secretary level, to study this matter.

Alluding to the US-UK military conversations on the defense of the Middle East, Secretary Hoover stated that two British objectives had become apparent in the course of these conversations. In the first place, the British desired to assure themselves of command responsibility in the area in the event of difficulties. Secondly, the British expected the United States to foot the bill required to place the area in some posture of defense.

In view of these transparent British designs, Secretary Hoover said that the United States henceforth was proposing to confine further conversations with the United Kingdom to a purely political level, avoiding further discussion on the military level. For this among other reasons he agreed that it was wise to postpone for a time any decision to revise NSC 5428.

The National Security Council:³

a. Noted and discussed the reference Progress Report by the Operations Coordinating Board on the subject.

b. Agreed that a review by the NSC Planning Board of the policies set forth in NSC 5428 should await the advice of the Secretary of State as to timing.

Note: The action in b above, as approved by the President, subsequently transmitted to the Secretary of State.

S. Everett Gleason

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by, S. Everett Gleason on May 6.
2. The Progress Report was dated April 6. (Department of State, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 61 D 167, Near East (NSC 5428))
3. Paragraphs a–b and the Note that follows constitute NSC Action No. 1394. (Department of State, S/S-NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, NSC Records of Action)