867N.01/8–2045: Telegram
The Chargé in Iraq ( Moose ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21—2:30 p.m.]
309. This morning I called at Foreign Ministry on Minister’s request. Dr. Fadhil Jamali, Director General of Ministry, referred to President’s press conference of August 16 and asked if Legation had text of President’s statement on Palestine. On being told that Legation had only brief radio summary Jamali said he would reserve final judgment until full text could be consulted. However, he in common with Iraqi officials and Arab nationalists generally took serious view of President’s endorsement of immigration into Palestine to as many Jews as possible.
Jamali, disregarding limitations and qualifications of President’s statement, stated his objections based on alleged offence to Arab rights, Iraqi rights and human rights.
He continued by saying that both Iraqi, [Prime Minister?] Dr. Imin Hamdi al-Pachachi, and Secretary General of Arab League, Abdul Rahman Bey Azzam had issued statements in Alexandria rejecting further Jewish immigration into Palestine.
Jamali was irked by statement to effect that question of Palestine had not been discussed with Marshal Stalin and that Soviet Union could do nothing about it. Citing Azzam Bey as authority and inspiration Dr. Jamali claimed either that problem of international nature and USSR has an interest too, or problem is of domestic nature and neither US or USSR have any interest. When I inquired if Jamali thought every nation has an interest in every international [Page 724] problem he replied that USSR’s interest in Near East is growing rapidly and that USSR should be consulted about Palestine.
He continued by saving that Soviet Minister to Baghdad Mr. Zaitsev had been doing effective propaganda favorable to USSR and detrimental to US by contrasting Soviet opposition to Zionism with US support. Incidentally he remarked Soviet Minister is pressing for negotiations of a Soviet-Iraqi trade agreement.
Jamali pointed out with obvious pleasure that 40 million Arabs oppose a Jewish state in Palestine and are prepared to resist it by any means whatsoever. He saw or thought he saw in President’s recent statement other evidence that Zionists in US are strong enough to determine US policy toward Palestine regardless of justice of Arab position and that 40 million Arabs might as well prepare to resist. He seemed fascinated by words “40 million Arabs” and used them over and over.
In separate interview Minister Foreign Affairs began by telling how well he had been treated in US and how much he liked Americans.17 He then audibly hoped that no misunderstanding should arise between US and Arab nations because of Palestine. However, he looked with some misgivings on President’s recent statement. While withholding Judgement pending receipt of full text he saw one encouraging sign: President’s reference to half a million troops indicated that he appreciated gravity of present situation.
Sent Department; repeated Cairo, Jidda, Jerusalem, Beirut, for Damascus.
- The Foreign Minister had led his country’s delegation at the San Francisco Conference.↩