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

80. Telegram From the Embassy in Iraq to the Department of State¹

Baghdad, November 21, 1955—2 p.m.

505. Opening session Turk-Iraqi Pact Council of Ministers began 1000 today.

After formal welcoming address by Nuri Permanent Council established and Nuri named first chairman (see below). Heads of various delegations then delivered brief statements after which US observers invited attend.

I gave statement approved by Department² adding only expression my pleasure that Iranian Prime Minister Ala had recently escaped injury and was able be with group. Ala expressed his deep appreciation.

Slightly revised agenda from that reported Embtel 491, November 18³ adopted which called for withdrawal military experts immediately thereafter to organize proposed military committee and to study UK and Turk memos on committee’s proposed activities. Military committee instructed report to Council no later than tomorrow noon.

Council next agreed Turk-Iraqi Pact should henceforth formally be known as Baghdad Pact, that French as well as English should be considered pact organization’s official language and that GOI should undertake register pact with UN on behalf all member states. Suggestion of conference secretary that press communiqué be issued each day followed by final statement at end of conference and that delegations might therefore refrain from expressing individual views to press accepted with modification proposed by Macmillan that individual delegation’s press officials be allowed give background guidance to press as conference proceeds.

Iranian Prime Minister sought to obtain agreement chairmanship would begin on alphabetical basis (which would mean Iran next) at beginning of 1956 but compromise proposed by Macmillan accepted that in view nearness end of current year present chairman (Nuri) be considered chairman for next 14 months with understanding that next annual meeting of Council will be held in Tehran where he would as matter of courtesy turn over chair to host government for those sessions. Thereafter beginning 1957 chairmanship would rotate on alphabetical basis.

Meeting adjourned 1210 with second session of Council scheduled convene 1530 today.⁴

Gallman

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5.11–2155. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Tehran, London, Ankara, and Karachi.
2. For text of Gallman’s statement of November 21, see Department of State Bulletin, December 5, 1955, pp. 926–927.
3. Not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/11–1855)
4. For text of the final communiqué issued by the Baghdad Pact Council on November 22, see Department of State Bulletin, January 2, 1956, pp. 16–18. Telegraphic reports on the other sessions of the meeting are in Department of State, Central File 780.5.