Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

867N.01/3–1049: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iraq ¹

confidential

Washington, March 16, 1949—4 p. m.

94. Embtel 101 March 10.² While recognizing Iraq’s needs in combatting possible subversive elements US unable consider lifting arms embargo before peace settlement achieved Palestine or SC Res May 29 rescinded. Dept assumes Fonoff realizes embargo could not be lifted for Iraq alone.

Emb shld point out that speedy conclusion armistice agreements as called for by GA Res Dec 11 wld hasten final peace settlement.

Acheson

1. This telegram was repeated to Tehran, Damascus, Moscow, Ankara, and London.
2. Not printed; it reported that a note from the Iraqi Foreign Office cited dangers that Kurdish forces led by Mustafa al-Barzani would in a few days try to enter Iraq. The forces were said to be supported by the Soviet Union and under its influence, in order to achieve Soviet political aims (867N.01/3–1049).