787.00/1–2451: Despatch

The Ambassador in Iraq (Crocker) to the Department of State 2

secret
No. 744

During course of my first call on Acting Foreign Minister Shakr al-Wadi I was struck by change in atmosphere which had taken place since my departure in late September.

Shakr Pasha made it abundantly clear that Iraqi Government thinking had crystallized to the point where, instead of the fatalistic acceptance of the futility of Soviet aggression in the Middle East, it has been decided that every means will be exerted to meet the issue with such resources, both moral and material, as they may be able to summon from within themselves and their country and from Britain, the United States and any other sources including the Arab States.

There was an atmosphere of grave concern at the rapid deterioration of the international situation following upon the developments in Korea as a result of Moscow-supported Chinese Communist military intervention. This led logically to a re-examination by the Iraq Government of its position and the emergence of a conviction that Iraq must participate actively and positively in whatever defense against Soviet aggression might be forthcoming. He made it clear that there was no acceptance of the “neutralism” such as was reflected in certain circles in Egypt, for instance, and, in fact, that the Prime Minister, Nuri Said, was proceeding to the Arab League meeting at Cairo3 with the intention of attempting to promote what would amount to a military alliance among the Arab States, thus liquidating any thoughts of “neutralism” in the area. Comment: It is of course highly doubtful that Nuri really expects to accomplish such an alliance. His purpose is probably to try to condition the Arab States to an acceptance of a [Page 546] pro-Western policy and an abandonment of any thoughts of neutralism.

Most significant, perhaps, was the implication that the problem of Israel must be put into a more realistic perspective which the serious circumstances demanded. In fact, in my succeeding conversation with Ahmad al Rawi, Under Secretary of the Foreign Office, he came right out and said, in effect, that Israel as a danger must no longer be considered at all in the face of the deadly threat of Soviet imperialism.

Edward S. Crocker
  1. Repeated to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Cairo, Jidda, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, London, and Moscow.
  2. A special session of the Arab League Political Committee, January 20–February 3.