Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 398
No. 679
Memorandum of Conversation, by the
Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)
- Subject: Middle East
Participants:
- Premier Mendès-France
- Ambassador Bonnet
- The Secretary
- Livingston T. Merchant
M. Mendès-France inquired what was developing in the talks which he understood were going on between London, Ankara and Washington on defense arrangements for the Middle East.1
The Secretary responded that nothing at all was happening as far as we are concerned and that he saw no real possibility of a comprehensive defense arrangement in this area. He said we were encouraging the “northern tier” concept with the thought of drawing Iran and Iraq together with Turkey and Pakistan, but that any broad engagement seemed ruled out by current tensions between Israel and the Arab states. The UK, however, is exploring the matter in broad terms as are we but no major solution has been developed.
M. Mendès-France said that he thought the “northern tier” approach was a good one and he also thought we were right in not contemplating any arrangements with the countries in the area which excluded Israel.
- For documentation on these talks, see vol. ix, Part 1, pp. 378 ff.↩