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

890G.00/578: Telegram

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

Baghdad, April 21, 1941—7 p.m.
[Received April 22—4:30 a.m.]

90. British Ambassador has received note from Iraq Foreign Office formally demanding immediate assurances of fulfillment Gailani’s four requests reported first paragraph my 89, April 19. Gailani has told Edmonds, who has been acting as intermediary between Gailani and Cornwallis, that British refusal these demands will be interpreted as nonfulfillment treaty and that Iraq will consequently repudiate treaty. Cornwallis intends play for time until next arrival troops.

British are on lookout for possible German infiltrations from Iran or German troop arrivals by transport planes.

Knabenshue