890G.00/577
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of
State
[Washington,] April 18,
1941.
The British Ambassador33 called at his request and handed me a copy of a
telegram from his Foreign Office relative to developments in
[Page 501]
Iraq. I thanked him and
said that we naturally are very much interested in the disquieting
developments of the past few days in Iraq.
[Annex]
Copy of Telegram From the British Foreign Office to the British Embassy in Washington, Dated April 17,
1941
Please inform United States Government that Rashid Ali has agreed
to a request for opening line of communications through Iraq in
accordance with provisions of Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of Alliance and
that Imperial troops are due to reach Basrah immediately. His
Majesty’s Government regarded this as test case and His
Majesty’s Ambassador accordingly informed Rashid Ali on April
16th that provided unconditional cooperation was forthcoming for
opening line of communications, His Majesty’s Government for
their part would be prepared to enter at once into informal
relations with his Government, and accord full recognition to
new regime as soon as there has been sufficient time to judge
whether new regime is capable of acting up to Rashid Ali’s own
assurances.
In any case we consider presence of Imperial troops in Iraq can
hardly fail to act as stabilizing factor in the situation.
You should conclude by again expressing to the United States
Government my thanks for their welcome cooperation in this
question and say that His Majesty’s Ambassador at Baghdad will
of course keep in close touch with their representative
there.
