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

890G.00/552: Telegram

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

Baghdad, April 9, 1941—11 a.m.
[Received 2:13 p.m.]

70. Referring section 1, Department’s 35,²⁸ thanks for second paragraph and as regards fourth, British Ambassador’s estimate was based on thesis of nonrecognition without use of force to readjust and stabilize situation and I agreed with him. Subsequent activities of military, their treatment of British subjects—holding them virtually as hostages—jamming of British-Arabic broadcast while permitting unhindered German-Arabic broadcasts, with strategic dispositions of army units throughout the country, particularly in threatening positions in respect to British air bases, may now justifiably characterize the Iraq Army estimated at 50,000 as a hostile force which invites British occupation even before German infiltration or nonrecognition and withdrawal of Ambassador. Fifth paragraph already reported in telegrams 65 to 68²⁹ inclusive.

Part 1 Department’s 35 received 8 p.m. yesterday, part 2 not yet received.

Knabenshue

28. Dated April 7, 6 p.m., p. 496.
29. Telegrams Nos. 65, April 7, 5 p.m., and 66, April 7, 7 p.m., pp. 495 and 497, respectively; Nos. 67 and 68 not printed.