890G.00/2–446

Memorandum, by Mr. Adrian B. Colquitt of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs

secret

A. General Political. Our present policy toward Iraq is to contribute in every suitable way to the economic and cultural development of that country, while giving appropriate encouragement to its growing desire to achieve complete control of its own affairs and to play a more important role in world affairs.

In Iraq, as in other countries of the Near East, the United States has cultural and commercial ties of long standing, and the policy of this Government has been directed in recent years at protecting these interests and at assuring that American citizens and American interests are treated on a non-discriminatory basis. Such treatment was provided for by a Tripartite Convention between the United States, Great Britain and Iraq which was signed in 1930, when Iraq was still a mandate.

Iraq is still one of the less fully developed states, both politically and economically, in the Near East. It is, moreover, a country in which British interest for many years has been preponderant and in which that interest has not diminished in recent years as it has in certain other Near Eastern countries. The United States, in its relations with Iraq, has not sought to undermine or oppose the influence which the British Government exercises over the political and economic life of the country. It has been our practice, as it has been in neighboring countries, to support the general lines of British policy where such policy was not inimical to our own interests. This does not mean, of course, that the United States has given its approval to many of the British policies toward the Iraqi Government. It is undeniable, however, that one of the reasons for the lack of a more [Page 569] well-defined or characteristic policy of this Government toward Iraq is the existence of the powerful British influence in that country.

As Arab nationalism grows, Iraq promises eventually to assume a key position in the Arab world. It will be increasingly necessary for us to maintain closer relations with Iraq, since our standing in the entire area will to a considerable degree be dependent on the attitude of Iraq toward the United States. The chief issues arising between the two countries will thus be in the political sphere and will turn upon Iraq’s growing leadership among the Arab countries. There is also the question of Palestine,2 in which Iraq has shown a great interest and an evident desire to be in the vanguard of the Arab opposition to the Zionists. The Iraqi fear lest the Government of the United States support the establishment of a Jewish commonwealth in Palestine handicaps our efforts to develop friendly and close relations.

  1. For documentation on this subject, see pp. 576 ff.