449. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, February 5, 19571
SUBJECT
- Visit of Crown Prince Abdul Ilah of Iraq
V. SITUATION IN SAUDI ARABIA
[Here follows the same list of participants as Document 445.]
Dr. Jamali said Iraq would like to be on friendly terms with Saudi Arabia, and in fact would be delighted if Saudi Arabia would join the Baghdad Pact. In any event, Iraq would like to establish cooperation with Saudi Arabia in anti-Communist efforts.
The Secretary stated that he did not think it possible to persuade Saudi Arabia to join the Pact at this time. Any invitation to do so would probably only be rebuffed. It would be a great gain, nevertheless, if SA could be persuaded to take a more tolerant view of the Pact. We must work to bring this about. The Prince might be able to help on this score.2
The Prince agreed. He said he was seeing King Saud tomorrow.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.11/2–557. Secret. Drafted by Eilts.↩
- A memorandum of this
conversation by Secretary Dulles reads in part as follows:
“The Crown Prince asked me what I thought the real attitude of King Saud was toward Iraq and the Baghdad Pact. I repeated that I thought it would be a great mistake to ask him to join the Pact, but I did feel that King Saud wanted to have more friendly and closer relations with Iraq. I thought something could be done along this line.” (Ibid., Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 833)
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