Office of the Historian

72. Circular Telegram from the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions1

Washington, October 27, 1955—4:01 p.m.

283. Paris pouch Geneva for Russell. In view imminent formation Baghdad Pact Council (Baghdad’s 360)2 convey following to member government to which you accredited:

1.
US welcomes plans being made for early meeting Pact signatories and organization Council.
2.
US considers close coordination between US and Pact powers highly desirable and should Pact governments concur is prepared establish liaison arrangements with Pact organization on political and military levels.
3.
Type liaison would of course depend upon actual organization formulated. However our tentative views envisage political liaison by US Ambassador at capital where Pact headquarters located. Tentative view also is that military liaison would not be elaborate at this time in view extensive US military contacts now existing throughout Pact area. Would appreciate any comments, suggestions this subject.
4.
Should Pact governments feel it desirable, US willing, as further evidence its support, consider publicity liaison arrangements upon establishment.
5.
While US presently continues feel it should not adhere to Pact now, this does not exclude future adherence and question will be kept under constant review in light developments with this possibility in mind.

FYI. Addressees’ comments on nature liaison also desired. End FYI.

Hoover

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/10–2755. Secret. Drafted by Newsom and Dixon and approved by Allen who signed for Hoover. Sent to London, Ankara, Baghdad, Tehran, and Karachi; repeated to Paris for USRO, Rome for Maffitt, Cairo, Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Jidda, Tripoli, and Tel Aviv.

    During discussions on October 26 in Paris with Foreign Secretary Macmillan and Prime Minister Zorlu, Secretary Dulles had agreed that the United States would have political and military liaison with the Baghdad Pact. Secto 41 from Geneva, October 27, conveyed Secretary Dulles’ decision on the matter and his request that the Department of State take necessary steps to assure effective liaison.(Ibid., 396.1–GE/10–2755) The memorandum of Dulles’ conversation with Macmillan on October 26 is printed in vol. XIV, p. 650.

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  2. Dated October 17, not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/10–1755)↩