Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

890G.24/19: Telegram

The Minister Resident in Iraq (Knabenshue) to the Secretary of State

Baghdad, February 19, 1941—5 p.m.
[Received February 20—4:40 a.m.]

32. Confidentially informed Iraqi Government negotiating with Robert Morgan and Company through Iraqi Arms Inspector Ali Ghalib now in America for purchase 50 million rounds of small arms ammunition and 10,000 rifles for which that company claims it can secure export permits. Respectfully suggest it would seem inconsistent with our aid to Britain policy for such permits to be issued at this juncture when it is still uncertain whether this war material may not be used to assist Germany.

Knabenshue