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

59. Instruction From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Posts¹

CA–1214

Washington, August 11, 1955.

SUBJECT

• US-UK Cooperation With Regard to Middle East Defense

In recent US-UK discussions on Middle East regional security matters, the question of closer collaboration between US and UK officials in the area and the desirability of avoiding improper or unhelpful criticism of each other’s efforts has arisen. In the past, particularly where there has been concurrent military assistance or training missions, some rivalries, misunderstandings and sources of irritation have been generated. The principal effect of this has been that recipient countries have used such situations to their own advantage in playing off the US and the UK against each other. It is quite clear that US and UK policy are closely similar regarding the direction in which it is desirable for Middle Eastern defense to develop under present circumstances. Some difficulties exist on such secondary items as off-shore procurement where the British would wish to see greater a degree of matériel furnished by the US procured in the UK. However, such differences can best be worked out as between US and UK authorities. While giving evidence in the Middle East of close collaboration we wish, of course, to avoid the appearance of seeming to adopt a predetermined course of action which Middle East countries should accept as a fait accompli. However, we do wish to give the appearance of pursuing a course with common aims and similarity of policy in seeking the best defensive system possible in the area. Although we realize there has been consultation in varying degrees between the US and UK representatives in the Middle East, more consultation and less criticism is desirable on both sides.

You are requested to bring the foregoing to the attention of the US personnel in your area. The Department is requesting the UK Government to send similar instructions to its posts in the Middle East.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/8–1155. Top Secret. Drafted by Dixon and George V. Allen and approved by, Hoover. Sent to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Karachi, Tehran, and Jidda; repeated to Ankara and London.