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

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

Baghdad, November 24, 1955—2 p.m.

521. Prime Minister Nuri asked me to meet with him and Menderes at airport this morning just before takeoff of Turkish delegation. I met with them along with Foreign Minister Bashayan and British Ambassador.

Nuri and Menderes had met yesterday with Jordanian Minister in Baghdad. He leaves this afternoon for Beirut where King Husain is visiting. From there he is to go to Amman to see Prime Minister Mufti.

Jordanian Minister is to tell King and Prime Minister that if Jordan joins pact, Turkey and Iraq will extend some arms and economic aid to Jordan. Macmillan has given his approval that Minister may say UK is also prepared to extend some arms aid and to revise present Anglo-Jordanian treaty as well.

Nuri and Menderes feel quite confident that these assurances will bring Jordan into pact.

When I asked Nuri what kind of economic aid Iraq was prepared to extend to Jordan, he said that would be brought out in contemplated new economic accord which is to be negotiated here next month.

Nuri and Menderes then spoke to me about Lebanon.

They feel that if approach is made now to President Chamoun to join pact, with some assurances of arms and economic aid, Chamoun can bring Lebanon into pact. He needs, however, some assurances in order to bring government along and to create most propitious public atmosphere. No approach will be made to Chamoun, however, until answer is received from us whether we too are prepared to extend some arms and economic aid. Could we, they asked, give assurance of extending to Lebanon some defensive arms aid on grant basis, and assurance of some economic aid?

When I questioned them about extent of arms aid and just what kind of economic aid they had in mind, they replied that “token” grants of arms and economic aid would suffice. I could not get anything more definite from them. When I pressed for something more specific, at least on kind of economic aid envisaged, Bashayan volunteered that Lebanon was getting aid for irrigation development through loan from IBRD. Perhaps, he suggested, some loan, even if limited, for some such development scheme could be arranged.

Both Nuri and Menderes feel that if Jordan and Lebanon join pact now, reaction in Syria would be such as to weaken Leftist hold on that country and strengthen its pro-Western elements.

Would appreciate receive as soon as possible Department’s reaction to possible “token” arms and economic aid to Lebanon to strengthen pact members’ approach to Chamoun.²

Gallman

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/11–2455. Secret; Priority. Repeated Priority to London, Ankara, Amman, and Beirut.
2. In telegram 400 to Baghdad, November 26, the Department of State responded that it had recently informed the Embassy in Beirut that the United States was prepared to give prompt consideration to a Lebanese request for assistance under the reimbursable military aid agreement with Lebanon of March 23, 1953. (5 UST 2908) Lebanon, however, had not yet made any purchases under this agreement nor had it taken action on a U.S. offer of a $5 million loan made in February 1955. The Department also noted that the United States was unable to extend grant military assistance without a grant aid agreement with Lebanon and did not wish currently to propose such an agreement to Lebanon, because of probable Congressional opposition. (Department of State, Central Files, 783A.5–MSP/11–2655)