Office of the Historian

422. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iraq1

Washington, August 21, 1955—6:07 p.m.

123. We have agreed with UK that British Ambassador Baghdad should inform Nuri in confidence that US and UK have agreed that Iraq forces should be equipped with British tanks and that Iraq will receive twelve Centurion tanks to begin with.

As you know ten of these will be provided under our current grant military aid program by OSP in UK.

We believe Nuri should be informed by British and that use of US funds should be downplayed at present. Accordingly you should not take initiative in discussing matter with IG but if asked may confirm British Ambassador’s statement.2

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.5–MSP/8–2155. Secret. Repeated to London. Drafted by William C. Burdett, Jr., cleared by Secretary Dulles, and approved by Francis H. Russell.↩
  2. On August 25, Gallman reported a conversation with Nuri during which the Prime Minister told Gallman that the British Ambassador had informed him of the decision to supply Iraq with 12 Centurion tanks. According to Gallman, Nuri asked, “When are you going to tell us about them?” Gallman replied that there was no need to do that since the British Ambassador already had. (Telegram 163 from Baghdad, August 25; ibid.,787.5–MSP/8–2555)↩