741.90G/7–545
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson) to the Acting Secretary of State (Grew)
I think that you will be interested in these two airgrams* from Baghdad, which show that the question of revision of the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty2 is again being discussed rather freely in Baghdad.
A change in this treaty, which gives Great Britain a predominant position in Iraq, is of course desired by the Iraqis, and would be welcomed by ourselves. Such an attitude on our part would conform to the position which we assumed recently with regard to Syria and Lebanon, in opposition to the maintenance by any one of the Great Powers of a position in any Near Eastern country which would discriminate against our interests.3
It will be noted that among the subjects under discussion in this general connection is the Iraqi diplomatic representation abroad4 and the precedence accorded the British Ambassador in Baghdad which the Director General of the Foreign Office mentioned to our Chargé, Mr. Moose, as being one of the more offensive provisions of the treaty arrangements. You will recall that our desire to raise our Legation in Baghdad to Embassy rank was the subject of a recent memorandum5 which we sent you.
- Nos. A–59 (July 5) and A–64 (July 12). [Footnote in the original; neither printed.]↩
- Treaty of Alliance, signed at Baghdad June 30, 1930, League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cxxxii, p. 363.↩
- For documentation on this subject, see pp. 1034 ff.↩
- The head of the Iraqi diplomatic establishment at London was a Minister.↩
- Memorandum of May 12, not printed.↩