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

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

Baghdad, February 18, 1955—1 p.m.

593. I question advisability communicating to Nuri substance of US–UK memorandum of understanding of February 26, 1954² (Deptel 508).³ Doing so at this late date is likely to be ill received and may give rise to charge that Iraqis have been misled with attendant suspicion there may be more as yet unrevealed commitments between US and UK to Iraq.

At same time I feel we should seek at every opportunity to eliminate suggestion that US–UK rivalry exists in supplying military equipment to Iraq. I have made it clear to Nuri and other responsible Iraqi officials, and will continue to do so on suitable occasions, that US and UK are engaged in continuing consultations re defense needs of free world, which includes Iraq and that our military aid program here is designed to complement rather than to replace that of the British with a view to furthering common interests.⁴

Gallman

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.5/2–1855. Confidential. Repeated to London.
2. The text of this memorandum is printed in Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. IX, Part 2, p. 2371. The memorandum dealt generally with the provision of military aid to Iraq by the United States and the United Kingdom. The United States pledged to coordinate its military aid to Iraq “as far as possible” with existing agreements between Iraq and the United Kingdom. The United States also agreed to impress upon the Iraqi Government that it should continue to look primarily to the United Kingdom for both arms and training.
3. Telegram 508, February 16, noted the recent Iraqi requests for U.S. Air Force assistance. The Department said that it was considering whether Gallman should clarify the U.S. position by giving Nuri the substance of the U.S.–U.K. Memorandum of Understanding of February 26, 1954, and requested Gallman’s comments. (Department of State, Central Files, 787.5/2–1655)
4. On March 11, the Department informed the Embassy in Baghdad that it was considering means of giving Nuri “tangible evidence” of its appreciation of “his forthright stand” on the Baghdad Pact which was signed on February 24. After discussions with the British, the Department had agreed to expedite delivery of guns for Iraq. (Telegram 587 to Baghdad, March 11; ibid., 682.87/3–1155) Gallman informed Nuri of this decision on March 12, and Nuri “expressed warmest appreciation.” (Telegram 702 from Baghdad, March 12; ibid., 787.5/3–1255)